Katya Sussman-Dawson is an Assistant Professor of School Psychology at UMSL, and serves as Field Placement Coordinator for the program. She received her bachelor's degree in Dance Pedagogy from Mercyhurst University and her Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology from the University of Missouri- St. Louis. She obtained her Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Missouri- Columbia. Dr. Sussman-Dawson has prior experience as a special education teacher and professional school psychologist in Florida and Missouri. She has been a Nationally Certified School Psychologist since 2017. She has been extremely involved in leadership at both the state and national levels, serving as Advocacy Chair and University Representative for the Missouri Association of School Psychologists (MASP) and Co-Chair of the Leadership Development Committee (LDC) for the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). She was recognized in 2022 for this work when she received The Outstanding Advocate Award presented by NASP's Government & Professional Relations (GPR) Committee.
Dr. Sussman-Dawson's research interests include systems change research that critically assess the ways in which our educational systems directly impact student outcomes and learn from other educational systems internationally about what adjustments yield the most positive effects for students. She is deeply involved in the local and state's educational community and continues to work with districts in their implementation of equity-based Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), to ensure that all children have access to early, evidence-based interventions. At UMSL, Dr. Sussman-Dawson teaches courses in the School Psychology program including Professional Issues of School Psychology, Psychoeducational Interventions, Practicum I & II, and Internship I.
Program Involvement
EdS - School Psychology
Published Research Areas
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
Systemic Practices in Early Intervening Services
Implementation Fidelity of Data-Based Individualization of Early Intervention
