The Principal Investigator for the PEERS Violence Prevention is Lisa Pescara-Kovach, Ph.D. She is a professor of Educational Psychology and graduate faculty member in the Department of Foundations of Education at The University of Toledo. She earned her doctoral degree in Experimental Psychology (Specialty Area: Child Development) in 1997 and teaches courses in child and adolescent behavior and development. In March, 2002, the P.E.E.R.S. program received praise at a talk given by Dr. Kovach at the National Association of School Psychologists conference in Chicago, IL. Dr. Kovach recently presented a talk entitled “Violence in America’s Schools: Who is At-Risk and How Can You Help?” to students enrolled in the Upward Bound Program. As an invited speaker at the 3rd Annual Kujichagulia Ujima Student Empowerment Conference, Part of National Trio Day 2001, Dr. Kovach gave two lecture/discussions on this topic at the Wyndham Hotel in Toledo, OH. Dr. Kovach has also provided reporters and viewers, on the local news, with advice on Warning Signs of a Potentially Violent Peer and How to Prevent Violence in Our Schools. She has also been interviewed on Child-Safe Internet Use and Issues Affecting the Elderly.
Dr. John Robert Cryan is a co-principal investigator for the PEERS Violence Prevention program. He is the Chair of the Dept. of Early Childhood, Physical and Special Education and a tenured professor of Early Childhood Education. He is the founder and past-editor of the Journal of Research in Childhood Education, an international journal of research published by the Association for Childhood Education International. He will present talks in the schools.
Dr. Thomas Dunn also serves as co-principal investigator for the program. He is the Chair of the Department of Foundations of Education and a tenured professor of Educational Psychology. Dr. Dunn specializes in the study of motivational factors. He also is a Licensed Psychologist and will serve as a psychology consultant to the PEERS staff.
Dr. Christine Fox is an additional co-principal investigator for the program. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Foundations of Education and a tenured professor of Research And Measurement. Dr. Fox specializes in the Rasch Model. In fact, she has currently co-written a book on the topic. She will serve in an evaluating capacity on the PEERS project.