CAHSS Professors Internationally Recognized for Dyslexia Research
Associate professors of psychology Laura Santerre-Lemmon and Lauren McGrath. Photo by Hannah Fulk.
Associate professors of psychology Laura Santerre-Lemmon and Lauren McGrath, part of the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, were recognized last October by the International Dyslexia Association and received the organization's 2024 Excellence in Leadership Award for their academic efforts to increase widespread understanding of dyslexia and access to services for students with dyslexia for the past two decades.
"It was especially rewarding to receive the award for our joint work as we have been working together for almost 10 years," McGrath said.
This award recognized that, through their collaborative work in both clinical and research realms, Santerre-Lemmon and McGrath have prioritized community outreach and service opportunities with agencies such as the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), the International Dyslexia Association Rocky Mountain Branch and national organization, and Colorado Kids Identified with Dyslexia (COKID).
Since receiving the award last fall, Santerre-Lemmon and McGrath have been collaborating on a grant through the National Institutes of Health that focuses on the mental health and emotional experiences of students with dyslexia, an area in the field of psychology that has been relatively understudied but requires urgent attention. This research is unique in its translational clinical research model, which was developed through a collaboration between the DU Developmental Neuropsychology Clinic, directed by Santerre-Lemmon, and the DU LEaRN Lab, directed by McGrath. Because this research is directly connected to the clinic, findings are anticipated to have a faster path towards clinical application, meaning doctors and educators can benefit from Santerre-Lemmon and McGrath's work sooner.
Santerre-Lemmon has served on the Dyslexia Advisory Board of the Colorado Department of Education as the state dyslexia expert and is currently on the board of the International Dyslexia Association, Rocky Mountain Branch. McGrath previously served on the Specific Learning Disabilities Steering Committee of the Colorado Department of Education and is currently serving on the Scientific Advisory Board of the International Dyslexia Association.
The College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences is thrilled to recognize the achievements of Santerre-Lemmon and McGrath for their contributions to the field of psychology and liberal arts education at the University of Denver.
