Leah M. Nellis, Ph.D.

Phone:

765-455-9287

Email:

lmnellis@iu.edu

Campus:

IU Kokomo

Education

Ph.D.,1995, Ball State University, Muncie, IN (APA accredited)

• Major: School Psychology, Department of Educational Psychology
• Cognate: Research Design and Statistics

M.A., 1992, Ball State University, Muncie, IN (NASP approved)

• Major: School Psychology         

B.A., 1991, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

• Majors: Psychological Sciences, Sociology; Minor: Organizational Leadership

Professional Experience

2024-Present               

• Interim Assistant Vice President for School Partnerships, Indiana University
  Office of the Vice President for Regional Campuses and Online Education

2023-Present

• Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Special Projects, Indiana University Kokomo

2023-2024

• Lead Academic Strategist, Office of School Partnerships, Indiana University

2022-2023

• Senior Advisor IU Regional Campus K-12 Initiatives, Indiana University,
  Office of the Vice President for Regional Campuses and Online Education

2017-2023

• Dean and Professor, School of Education. Indiana University Kokomo, Kokomo, IN.

2005-2017

• Associate Professor of School Psychology and Ph.D. Program Director of Training, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN

2005-2012

• Director, Blumberg Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Special Education, Bayh College of Education, Indiana State University.

2005-2013

• Project Director, Collaborative Problem Solving Project (2005-2010)/Effective Evaluation Resource Center, Blumberg Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Special Education, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN.

2001-2003

• Assistant Professor, School Psychology Program, University of Kentucky,

1998-2001

• Assistant Professor, School Psychology Program, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ. (NASP approved)

Fellowships

Aug 2013-June 2014

• Faculty Fellow for Research Administration, College of Graduate and Professional Studies, Indiana State University.

Aug 2012-Aug 2013

• Adams Fellow for Sponsored Programs, Bayh College of Education, Indiana State University. 

K-12 Professional Experience

2003-2005

• School Psychologist, RISE Special Services, Indianapolis, IN.

1995-1998

• Preschool Special Education Coordinator/Psychologist, Grant County Special Education Cooperative, Marion, IN.

Recent Funded Projects

2023-Present

• Principal Investigator, Addressing Regional School Psychologist Shortages through IU-School Partnership, U.S. Department of Education, Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program.  Awarded.

2022-Present

• Co-Principal Investigator, Tomorrow’s Teachers: A Paraprofessional Pathway to Career Advancement, Retention, and Increased Representation in the Educator Workforce. Indiana Department of Education. Funded.

2022-Present

• Principal Investigator, Tomorrow’s Workforce: Partnerships for Broadening College and Career Pathways. Indiana Department of Education, Explore, Engage, Experience (3E) Grant.  Funded.

 2020-Present

• Principal Investigator, Teacher Residency Programs in Teacher Education. Sub-contracts with ten local K-12 school partners.  Indiana Commission for Higher Education.  Funded.

2016-2022

• External Evaluator, Indiana Department of Education State Personnel Development Grant, Improving Student Outcomes through Highly Qualified and Effective Educators, Indiana Center on Teacher Quality.  Funded.

Current Professional Service

President, Executive Committee, Indiana Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (IACTE) (2019-2021; President-Elect, 2021-Present; President, 2023-2025).

Deans for Impact Fellow, Deans for Impact (2019-2020).

Member, Program Approval Board, National Association of School Psychologists (2014-Present).

Book Publications

Nellis, L. M., & Fenning, P. (Ed.). (2023). Systems Consultation and Change in Schools: Integrating Implementation Science into Practice. Springer Publishing. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-21381-6

Recent Publications, Refereed

Wood, B. J., & Nellis, L. M. (2022). Towards the Identification of systems-level consultation competencies in school psychology: Principals’ perspectives. Systems Change in School Psychology (Special issue). Research and Practice in the Schools, 9, 1, 16-28.

Nellis, L. M., & Wood, B. J. (2021). Principals’ perceptions of school psychologists’ engagement in systems level consultation. Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, DOI: 10.1080/10474412.2021.1996244

Balch, B., Nellis, L., & Conrad, M. (2019).  When school safety, behavioral and mental health issues intersect: Implications for the school board-superintendent team.  The Journal, 65(1), 38-43.

Bocanegra, J. O., Grapin, S. L., Nellis, L. M., & Rossen, E. (2017). Remediating the school psychology shortage crisis through the creation of a resource guide. Communiqué. Bethesda, MD: National Association of School Psychologists.