Melissa Ross

Melissa Ross, PsyD, serves as the Associate Director of Research Partnerships and Impacts and a project director for the center’s equity, engagement and evaluation work. She received her clinical training at the Wright State University School of Professional Psychology. As Associate Director, Dr. Ross establishes and cultivates research partnerships, manages the center’s faculty/staff/student research and teaching program and supports the Associates’ engagement in research, scholarship and student instruction.

As co-director of the center’s Equity, Engagement, and Evaluation program, Dr. Ross leverages her extensive experience in project management and partner relations to assist organizations and communities to achieve desired outcomes in an efficient and effective manner. The work of serving vulnerable populations (including marginalized populations, early learners, and special education students) is embedded in her day-to-day work and practice. She has managed large scale, multi-collaborative professional development, and coaching projects. Products and lessons learned from past projects serve as the basis for her current work.

Dr. Ross also spearheads The Center on Education and Training for Employment’s Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) Movement and serves as an advisory member of the REDI Steering Team. REDI is designed to increase members of the CETE community’s knowledge and skills relevant to the posture and practice of cultural humility, identify and establish anti-racist norms, practices, and policies at CETE, and contribute to the dismantling of institutional racism within CETE’s spheres of influence.

Psy.D. Wright State University, School of Professional Psychology 1996

• Access and Equity
• Adolescent and At-Risk Youth
• Community/Youth Development and Organizations
• Equity
• Family and Community Human Services
  • Community planning for health and social services
  • Policy development
  • Program evaluation
• Social Justice
  • Policy development
  • Program evaluation
  • Translation tools and procedures (including community-centered planning)

SELECTED FUNDED PRACTICE/RESEARCH

2022 - 2023     $1,954,323.00.  PI.  Ohio Department of Education.  Advancing Ohio’s English Learners
2021 - 2022     $38,000. Co-PI and project manager. Ohio Head Start Association Inc.  Racial Equity Diversity and Inclusion Project.
2021 – 2022    $476,435.21.  Co-PI.  Ohio Department of Education.  Parent Mentor Oversight and Professional Development
2020 – 2023    $125,627.  Co-PI.  Ohio Department of Education.  Annual Special Education Family Survey
2020 – 2022    $300,000.  Co-PI.      Ohio Department of Education.  Family and Community Partnership Liaisons
2016 - 2022     $425,000.  Co-PI and project manager. Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services. State youth treatment planning

Julian, D., Ross, M., Walker, K., Baker, E., & Correia, A-P.  (2020, Apr 17 - 21) Translational Research: A Mechanism for Promoting Researcher and Stakeholder Collaboration and the Public Good [Roundtable Session]. AERA Annual Meeting San Francisco, CA http://tinyurl.com/rwffmzl (Conference Canceled)

Julian, D. A. & Ross, M. (2013).  Strengthening infrastructure and implementing functions to support collaborative community problem solving. Journal of Planning Literature, 28(2), 124-134.

Julian, D. A.; Ross, M.; Partridge, C.  (2008). Challenges in supporting community implementation of Science-based Programs:  A critical review of local partnerships for success plans. American Journal of Community Psychology, 41, 351 - 360.

Julian, D. A.; Ross, M.; Crawford, B.; Hutcherson, M.; Neff, A.; Panzino, T.; & Spring, K.  (2008). Training local professionals to engage in community practice roles. The Community Psychologist, 41, 31-34.

2022    Melissa Ross, “A Strategic Plan to Address Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Head
            Start System in Ohio”, Ohio Head Start Association, Inc. June Leadership and
            Professional Development Conference
 
2022    David Julian, Melissa Ross and Kenyona Walker, Gabrielle Hicks, and Ana-Paula
            Correia, “Translational Research: The Integration of Equity, Quantitative Research and
Efforts to Address Issues in Schools, Communities and Other Organizations”, Quantitative Methodology Center 2022 Conference invited panelist.
 
2021    David Julian, Melissa Ross and Kenyona Walker, "Getting REDI: An Organizational
Blueprint for Addressing Racism",18th Biennial Conference on Community Research and Action Division 27, American Psychological Association.
 
2021    Melissa Ross, Racial Equality: What’s the Big Idea?  Exploring the Impact of Race Across Communities,      Organizations and Institutions, Community conversation hosted by Columbus Africentric Early College K12, invited panelist.