CBIRT Faculty
Principal Investigators/Project Directors
Ann Glang
Ann Glang, Ph.D., is a Senior Fellow/Research Professor at the Teaching Research Institute (TRI). Dr. Glang began her career as a researcher in 1987 after receiving her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Oregon. Combining her interests in Special Education with her commitment to the principles of effective instruction, Dr. Glang has designed and studied interventions developing effective strategies to help teachers and families support children and adolescents with brain injuries.
Learn More about Ann Glang
Bonnie Todis
Bonnie Todis, Ph.D., is a Senior Fellow/Research Professor at the Teaching Research Institute. She received her Ph.D. in Special Education/Rehabilitation from the University of Oregon in 1988. Her dissertation, a life history of an elderly married couple with cognitive disabilities, was the first dissertation using qualitative methodology to be accepted in that department. Since receiving her degree, Dr. Todis has directed or co-directed 13 research projects focused on individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or other disabilities. On most of these projects, Dr. Todis’s role has been to design qualitative research components to complement qualitative studies and permit the subjects of the studies—children with disabilities and their families—to participate in each phase of the research.
Learn More about Bonnie Todis
Laurie Ehlhardt Powell
Laurie Ehlhardt Powell, Ph.D., is an Associate Fellow with the Teaching Research Institute (TRI). For more than 10 years, she has conducted research and trainings in the area of evidence-based instruction applied to assistive technology for cognition (ATC) for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI). Dr. Ehlhardt has published a number of papers on ATC and was lead author on a comprehensive literature review of research conducted in the area of instruction for individuals with ABI. She is also a speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of experience working with adults diagnosed with acquired cognitive-communication impairments due to ABI, across the continuum of care, including inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and vocational settings.
Deborah Ettel
Deborah Ettel, Ph.D., is a quantitative methodologist at Teaching Research Institute (TRI) providing direction in research design, methods of data collection and evaluation, and statistical analysis for TRI research projects. Dr. Ettel also teaches graduate-level research methods and measurement at the University of Oregon, in addition to running a private statistical consulting company. Her current research interests are in the area of co-morbid traumatic brain injury and depression. Prior to coming to TRI, Dr. Ettel served as a prevention science methodologist at the University of Oregon’s Child and Family Center, where she conducted data analysis for NIH and NIDA-funded studies in developmental psychopathology and substance abuse. Earlier in her career, Dr. Ettel spent twelve years as a school psychologist, providing assessment and consultation for children and families in the Eugene School District #4J.
Research Faculty
Laura Beck
Laura Beck has been a Research Librarian at the Teaching Research Institute (TRI) since January 1999. She received a BSW from the University of North Texas, an MA from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and an MLIS from the University of Missouri. Laura has served on a variety of information management, educational research, and service-related projects at TRI. Her primary focus is in the field of traumatic brain injury. Laura’s professional responsibilities include creating and maintaining library databases, collection development, and dissemination of information. She also monitors and disseminates relevant state and federal-funding opportunities for TRI faculty and conducts literature searches for faculty to support grant proposals and ongoing grant activities. Laura’s interests include improving information literacy for persons with disabilities. She is a member of the American Library Association and the Association of College and Research Libraries.
Carol Dennis
Carol Dennis has spent the past 15 years as a freelance writer for CBIRT and on staff at the Oregon Center for Applied Science (ORCAS). During that time, she has written and produced the video elements for interactive training and educational computer programs covering a wide range of topics, including women’s health, depression prevention in teens, caring for a family member with dementia, and advocating and caring for a family member with a brain injury. Carol brings to her work 30 years of experience in professional theatre in New York City and Los Angeles, which adds emotional life and human engagement to her writing. As a writer, she translates complex scientific concepts into accessible and engaging language. At CBIRT, Carol will be writing content for the CBIRT website and educational and training programs across projects and helping to coordinate the trainings and work sessions for the Oregon TBI Educational Consulting Team. Carol is currently on the boards of the Lane Education Service District and the Lane Education Foundation.
Robin Harwick
Robin Harwick, M.S. has been a member of academic, governmental, and private research teams since 1995. Robin is experienced in coordinating both qualitative and quantitative research projects. She has also worked extensively with at risk children and families as a parent educator, home visitor, and therapeutic foster parent. In these roles, she conducted developmental assessments, assisted in the design of transition plans, coordinated with other service agencies as appropriate, wrote curricula for and taught parenting classes, and provided families a consistent source of support. Robin is currently the Project Coordinator for the Back to School and the Training Assistive Technology in the Environmentt projects at TRI. She is also pursuing a Ph.D. in Special Education at the University of Oregon. Her emphasis area is Secondary Special Education and Transition, which combines her passion for working with at risk and marginalized youth with her desire to help them move toward successful adult outcomes.
Anna Hetrick
Anna Hetrick is a Research Assistant at CBIRT. She graduated with a BA in Asian Studies from the University of Oregon in 2010 with a strong background in international relations and cultural diversity. She is responsible for data management — including data collection, review, scoring, and entry — on several current studies. She also transcribes focus group and individual interviews for CBIRT’s qualitative research projects.
Don Hood
Don Hood has worked as a teacher, trainer, and behavioral and educational researcher for the past 25 years. The extensive use of focus groups to refine scripts, videos, pamphlets and manuals has helped Don incorporate the “end user’s” perspective in new products. In his work, he combines this perspective with a strong belief in person-centered-planning for individuals with disabilities. As Project Coordinator for a federal grant, he facilitates collaborative efforts among state agencies and organizations that serve individuals with brain injury. Don is currently an Assistant Fellow at the Teaching Research Institute. In 2009 he began a Ph.D. program in Educational Leadership at the University of Oregon, focusing on quantitative research methodology.
Melissa Nowatzke
Melissa Nowatzke, M.S., is the Project Coordinator for the TBI Team and works with the STEP and Transition Web projects. She received an M.S. in behavioral disabilities from the University of Oregon where she continues to pursue a D.ED in Educational Leadership. She has worked extensively with at-risk children and families as a behavior specialist for school district 4J and a behavior consultant for Lane ESD. She also worked as a special education teacher and spent seven years as a school administrator of a Pre-K–8th grade school. Her work at CBIRT combines her educational experiences and her passion for helping children and families.
Carolyn Saraceno
Carolyn Saraceno began her work with CBIRT as a research participant on projects including Training Assistive Technology in the Environment (TATE) and TEACH-M: Teaching Assistive Technology following TBI. Carolyn then became a volunteer, assisting with various projects and publications. She recently joined CBIRT as a contributor to our newsletter, content reviewer, and administrative assistant. Carolyn has a Bachelor of Science in Family and Human Services from the University of Oregon and is also a survivor of an acquired brain injury.
Cathy Thomas
Cathy Thomas has been an Assistant Specialist at TRI since 1999. She has been a member of behavioral and educational research teams for more than 20 years. Cathy has been responsible for research design and implementation, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of results on several projects. Currently, Cathy is the project coordinator for the training and dissemination activities for the Center on Pediatric Interventions. She also coordinates CBIRT's work with the Oregon Concussion Awareness and Management Program (OCAMP). Cathy serves as the office and grants manager for the CBIRT office. She is responsible for managing project budgets, coordinating project workflow, and interfacing with internal and external agencies. Cathy’s research interests involve methodology and data analysis. She has taken graduate level classes in these areas at the University of Oregon (UO). Cathy is an avid supporter of women's athletics at the UO. She has been a women's basketball season ticket holder for 20 years and is a charter member of the Fast Break Club.
