A University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor of educational psychology has been elected to the National Academy of Education.
Sue Sheridan is the first UNL faculty member to be named to the academy, an organization of more than 300 U.S. and international researchers who seek to improve education policy and practice through research.
Sue Sheridan
Courtesy photo
Sheridan, who was among a class of 14 leaders and scholars elected to the academy this year, founded the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools in 2004.
The center has served more than 5,700 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade educators and more than 105,000 children and adolescents in its first two decades, which Sheridan said was the result of collaborations with other faculty and students.
"The work that I've been able to do has only been possible because of the many relationships and partnerships that I've been a part of over the past 30-plus years," she said. "My collaborations with colleagues and students that share in this vision and help push it forward has leveraged our efforts in ways that I could never have imagined."
Prior to her arrival at UNL in 1998, Sheridan worked at the University of Utah and as a "baby school psychologist," which she said led to her interest in helping teachers and others who work in youth development.
"I realized then that, paradoxically, we have to support adults to make a difference in kids' lives," Sheridan said. "It's been a lifelong dream to bring that to fruition."
Sheridan's research has helped develop a strengths-based approach for supporting families and children on the margins, as well as those from diverse cultural or demographic backgrounds.
Her work has led to two engagement and partnership interventions.
Teachers and Parents as Partners, better known as TAPP, focuses on building relationships between a child's parents and teachers to create behavior support plans to be used as school and home.
Getting Ready aims at enhancing school readiness of children ages 0-5 growing up in adverse socioeconomic conditions by supporting parents through several interventions.
"The real value of our work is hearing from people who are participating in the research — the parents, teachers, school psychologists, counselors, and principals who have trusted us and agreed to work with us," Sheridan said. "Hearing their stories about how the experiences changed their lives for the better is incredibly humbling and rewarding."
UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett said Sheridan has been an "international leader" for decades in serving families and children.
"Her commitment to bettering the lives of some of the most vulnerable is further evidence of the positive impact UNL's work has on the state of Nebraska and beyond," Bennett said. "We are very proud to see her recognized with this prestigious and well-deserved honor."
Sherri Jones, interim vice chancellor for research and economic development, said the honor for Sheridan was much deserved.
"Sue truly exemplifies our university's research mission of discovery, creativity and innovation in advancing the state, the nation and the world," Jones said.
The National Academy of Education was founded in 1965. Sheridan will be formally inducted into the academy at its annual meeting on Oct. 25.
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Top Journal Star photos for March 2024
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KATY COWELL Journal Star
Sens. George Dungan of Lincoln (from left), John Cavanaugh of Omaha, Wendy DeBoer of Bennington, and Lynne Walz of Fremont listen to testimony from Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha (not pictured) during a public hearing before the Legislature's Executive Board on Thursday. The hearing was to hear testimony on whether to send a resolution to censure Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings to the legislative floor.
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Lincoln East's Kai Burkey picks up a fly ball against Creighton Prep, Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Den Hartog Field.
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KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Troy Dannen speaks to the media at a news conference where he is announced as the athletic director for the University of Nebraska on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Hawks Championship Center.
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Park Middle School band director, T.J. McLaughlin (center) conducts the band during rehearsal for the 75th annual Lincoln Public Schools All-City Music Festival performance on Tuesday at Lincoln Northeast High School.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
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From left, founder and director of Theatre Arts for Kids Leah Arlington, Aubree Lawrey, 16, Andy Brockmeier, 12, and Ellyson Stolcpart, 17, sing a song from The Little Mermaid on Monday, March 25, 2024.
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Nebraska fan Seth Backhuss reacts to the score in the last three minutes of the second half during of an NCAA Tournament first-round game on Friday at FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Nebraska's Keisei Tominaga signs the jersey of Brix Behrens, 10, after an open practice Thursday at FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn. Nebraska, a No. 8 seed, will be looking for the program's first NCAA Tournament victory when the Huskers play No. 9 seed Texas A&M on Friday. The game is scheduled to start at 5:50 p.m. on TNT.
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Nebraska's Case Sanderson is out by Omaha's Henry Zipay in second base, Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at Haymarket Park.
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A trio of sandhill cranes match speeds as they take off along the Platte River on March 17, 2024, near Kearney.
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Senators of the 2024 legislative body convene for a roll call vote on Tuesday at the Capitol.
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Owner of Cause for Paws, Sue Sturgis, holds her rescue dachshund Inkadoo in her arms on Monday, March 18, 2024. Cause for Paws donates their proceeds to help pay veterinary bills and buy pet food for people in need. The Lincoln Thrift Crawl event encourages customers to visit eight different locally owned thrift stores, including Cause for Paws, from March 17th- March 23rd.
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule speaks during a news conference on Monday at Hawks Championship Center.
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(From left) Kelly Harrington, Tami Westmoreland and Alana Casas-Castillo lead the 2024 Lincoln Women's March to the state Capitol on Saturday.
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Lincoln East's Kate Eggett does a handstand to throw-in the ball during the game against Lincoln Pius X on Friday, March 15, 2024, at Lincoln Pius X.
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JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Bradley Opperman holds a box of food to give out on March 15 at the Lincoln Food Bank.
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The Killigans' Greg Butcher (from left), Brad Hoffman and Bob Okamoto rehearse on Monday, March 11, 2024, in Lincoln.
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Wahoo's Cody Hesser (left) goes up for a shot as he is fouled by Ogallala's Jayden Curtis (center) during a Class C-1 first-round boys state tournament game Wednesday at the Devaney Sports Center.
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Dundy County Stratton's Lane Brown (from left), competes for a rebound with Ainsworth's Jacob Held and Logan Schroedl and DCS's Jackson Kerchal during a Class D-1 first-round boys state tournament game on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.Ainsworth's Dundy County Stratton's during a Class D-1 first-round boys state tournament game on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
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Wahoo's Dylan Simmons (11) is fouled by Ogallala's Jayden Curtis (5) in the first half during a Class C-1 first-round boys state tournament game on Wednesday, March 7, 2024 Wednesday at the Devaney Sports Center
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Omaha Concordia and Malcolm play the first half of a Class C-1 first-round boys state tournament basketball game on Wednesday, March 7, 2024 Wednesday at the Devaney Sports Center
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Northwest High School seniors Feryal Akpo-Idrissou (left) and Madeline Smith register to vote on Monday.
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Overton celebrates after defeating Wynot in the Class D-2 state championship game Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
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Overton coach Janessa Bergman (left) reacts with the Eagles' bench during the Class D-2 state championship game against Wynot on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
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Millard West players dogpile at center court after defeating Bellevue West to win the Class A girls state tournament championship game, Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
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Tyson McCall, 7, (right) is lifted up by his father Keenan as they cheer on Yutan in the Class C-2 girls state tournament championship game, Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
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Yutan's Jade Lewis (4) celebrates during the Class C-2 girls state tournament championship game against Crofton, Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
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Crofton's Ellie Tramps drives the ball down court on a breakaway in the first half during the Class C-2 girls state tournament championship game, Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
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Lincoln Christian celebrates winning the Class C-1 state championship against Sidney on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
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Pender celebrates winning the Class D-1 girls state tournament championship game over Southern Valley, Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Pender won 39-25.
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Lincoln Southwest senior Trent Buda dresses up as Where's Waldo during a Class A girls state tournament semifinal game against Bellevue West on Friday, March 1, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
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Nebraska's Caitlin Olensky pitches against Wichita State, Friday, March 1, 2024, at Bowlin Stadium.
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Yutan's Emilia Tederman (bottom left) competes for the ball with Bishop Neumann's Caitlin McGuigan (top left) and Adalin Bosak during a Class C-2 girls state tournament semifinal game, Friday, March 1, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center.
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The Sidney bench and head coach Tyler Shaw (center) celebrate after Ryan Dillehay (not pictured) scored a go-ahead basket against Grand Island CC in the second half during a Class C-1 girls state tournament semifinal game Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln Christian's Kenadee Ailes (30) swats away a layup attempt by Bridgeport's Tracey From (4) while her teammate Jessa Hueser (1) guards the lane in the first half during a Class C-1 girls state tournament semifinal game Friday, March 1, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
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Beatrice's Kiley Hatcliff (21) and Addison Hatcliff (10) celebrate winning a Class B first-round girls state tournament game over Norris on Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
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Lincoln North Star's Sarah Gatwetch (right) celebrates with her teammates after placing their name on a bracket to advance to the semifinals following their win over Millard North in a Class A first-round girls state basketball tournament game Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
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The Omaha Central student section read their student newspaper while Millard West is introduced ahead of a Class A first-round girls state tournament game on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
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An array of ciders from Saro Cider — Joy Harvest with Arbor Day Farm (from left), grapefruit, cranberry spice, and a non-alcoholic raspberry Bellini — is shown with a pesto parmesan flatbread.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Bishop Neumann junior Anthony Kavan (left) plays a card game with sophomore Dominic Benes as the basketball team palys Cross County during a Class C-2 first-round girls state tournament game, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center.
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Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com .
On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS
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