Janice Kroeger
School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies
Janice Kroeger, Ph.D., is a Professor in Curriculum and Instruction and Early Childhood Education for the School of Teaching, Learning, & Curriculum Studies. Kroeger teaches family, school, community partnerships utilizing critical and feminist lenses, as well as basic and advanced qualitative research methodologies. Her research interest spans the early years, typically featuring identity and diversity constructs within discursive, arts-based, and post-foundational qualitative methodologies. Kroeger’s most recent project is a cross-national, mixed-method study investigating the advocacy perspectives of parents and teachers of gender-diverse (trans, non-binary, genderfluid) young people. Kroeger is an EHHS SEED grant recipient as well as a recipient of the University Research Council’s Creative Activity Appointment for 2024-2025.
Jing Zhang
School of Lifespan, Development and Educational Sciences
Jing Zhang, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in Human Development and Family Science. As a family scientist with an interdisciplinary background integrating family science, intervention research, and advanced statistical methodology, she has developed a research agenda contributing to the understanding of critical sociocultural factors underlying the health and behavioral outcomes (e.g., substance use, psychological well-being, employment, education) of marginalized adolescents and families. Her research seeks to uncover crucial intervention targets that improve individual and family outcomes. Her research also focuses on testing efficacy and investigating mechanisms of change of family-based interventions that mitigate the negative influence of contextual risk and foster resilience. Her scholarly efforts have resulted in over 30 empirical research articles published in top-tier family science, developmental/clinical psychology, and social work journals. Findings from her research offer evidence to help practitioners identify the most effective intervention that responds to the needs of marginalized individuals and families.