Delaware Valley University Chair of Psychology Co-Edits New Book on Cultivating Student Success

by Nicole McMahon

Doylestown, PA (03/09/2022) — Professor and Department Chair of Psychology at Delaware Valley University (DelVal), Dr. Allison Buskirk-Cohen, co-edited a new book, Cultivating Student Success: A Multifaceted Approach to Working with Emerging Adults in Higher Education. In the volume, Dr. Buskirk-Cohen and her co-editor, Dr. Tisha Duncan, explore how the development of emerging adults is relevant to the struggles and successes in higher education. Together they discuss the challenges that students face to meet their most basic academic requirements, as well as the prevalent struggles associated with students' physical and mental well-being.

The volume explains that while tuition costs are rising, measures of student success are declining and that higher education in the United States is facing a critical juncture. Dr. Buskirk-Cohen and Dr. Duncan respond to these challenges in the book by offering a holistic collection of practices to guide those working with emerging adults in higher education.

Beginning with an introduction to the developmental period of emerging adulthood, subsequent chapters focus on how technology has impacted learning and communication for today's students and how faculty and staff can best work with students through meaningful relationships. Consisting of chapters from experts in a variety of disciplines, the volume provides faculty, administrators, and staff with the knowledge and skills needed to help today's students succeed.

About the Editors:

Dr. Buskirk-Cohen is a professor and chair of the Counseling Psychology Department at DelVal. Her research has focused on how interpersonal relationships influence academic success and well-being. Her doctoral work addressed the role of peer relationships and mental health as students transitioned from elementary to middle school. Her current work examines the role of a learner-centered approach in the college classroom, and how professor-student relationships influence student success. She is particularly interested in understanding how the developmental stage of emerging adulthood affects college students' adjustment.

Dr. Duncan has extensive experience in coaching and supporting educators in the implementation of effective teaching practices in a variety of content areas. Her areas of specialty at both the undergraduate and graduate levels are curriculum and instruction, technology integration, and differentiation. Recent research interests include learner-centered instruction, collaboration, and emerging adulthood. With over 20 years in the field of education, she has been blessed with the opportunity to work with persons of diverse backgrounds and all ages, from birth through adulthood.

Together, Dr. Buskirk-Cohen and Dr. Duncan are celebrating over a decade of friendship and collaboration. The two met at an interdisciplinary teaching conference and connected over their shared interest in learner-centered education. Although they live in different regions of the country, they easily developed a friendship and working relationship. Together, they have presented at academic conferences and published journal articles and book chapters. They edited their new book, Cultivating Student Success: A Multifaceted Approach to Working with Emerging Adults in Higher Education, during the pandemic. "While co-editing our new book during the pandemic had its challenges, collaborating is always a joy. We've certainly learned a lot about how to work together effectively," Dr. Buskirk-Cohen says.

Praise for Cultivating Student Success:

"With its emphasis on using a positive and developmental lens to better understand the strengths and challenges of traditional-aged college students who are emerging adults, Cultivating Student Success provides an invaluable holistic perspective and much-needed resource for college educators. Its chapters on technological skills, communication styles, the role of family, and the mental health needs of emerging adults give readers a nuanced view of this diverse generation, as well as practical strategies for equipping students to succeed in college." - Laurie A. Schreiner, Professor and Chair of the Department of Higher Education, Azusa Pacific University

"Cultivating Student Success provides postsecondary educators with helpful insights and advice for working with today's traditional-age students. This book covers key topics that have become increasingly important for offering effective support, including mental health, relationships with parents, use of technology, forms of communication, and identity development."-Nicholas A. Bowman, Mary Louise Petersen Chair in Higher Education, University of Iowa

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