YSU, UM transatlantic symposium set for March 25

About 60 faculty and students from Youngstown State University and the University of Manchester in England are expected to attend a virtual international training symposium focusing on “Girls and Autism” on Friday, March 25.

The event brings together students and faculty in YSU’s School Psychology Program and Manchester's Educational Psychologist Program to explore similarities and differences in school/educational psychologist practice in the area of autism, mainly focusing on girls.

“We anticipate that this will provide a catalyst for us to reflect critically on this common practice area,” said Richard VanVoorhis, associate professor and director of the School Psychology Program at YSU.

VanVoorhis has been at the center of the YSU-Manchester partnership that dates to March 2020, when he and a group of YSU school psychology students visited Manchester to see UK educational psychologists at work and exchange ideas about professional practice and training. Due to COVID-19, the collaboration has continued virtually, including this year’s symposium.

“We plan to continue this innovative model of transatlantic practice reflection and research collaboration in the future,” VanVoorhis said.

The virtual meeting will be 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday, March 25 and will include faculty and student presentations and discussions. YSU presenters at the symposium include YSU School Psychology faculty VanVoorhis, Carrie Jackson and Greg Boerio and student Abigail Hollowell.

The collaboration has also resulted in an article published in the International School Psychology Association's “World Go Round” and a collaborative presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists in Boston in February.

“Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, our collaboration has continued to grow in exciting and innovative ways,” VanVoorhis said.