Dr. Brian A. Burt, Associate Professor in the Educational Leadership and Analysis Department in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, became Director of the Wei LAB (effective September 2022). Previously, Dr. Brian A. Burt was the Assistant Director and Research Scientist at the Wei LAB, and is succeeding founding Director, Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson.

Under Dr. Burt’s leadership, the LAB will be an “Incubator for educational research, theory, and policy, and a hub promoting promising practices for higher education to workforce pathways.” This crystalized focus on research and practice will guide the LAB’s efforts and collaborations.

Congratulations to the Wei LAB’s founder, Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson, on being named the next Dean of Michigan State University’s College of Education! This role started on July 1st, 2022. In his fulfillment of this role, Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson will be the first African-American to hold this position at MSU.

Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson founded the Wei LAB in May 2010 as an externally funded research unit within Wisconsin’s Center for Educational Research (WCER). Since its inception, the Wei LAB has grown due to the exceptional work of Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson and his team. The Wei LAB extends its thanks for all Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson has done, and wishes him the best on his new position!

Dr. Donald L. Gillian-Daniel (he/him) uses an applied improvisational approach to engage participants in learning how to teach more equitably and inclusively, both in person and online.  He has worked locally, nationally, and internationally, and consulted with universities, National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded initiatives , as well as national non-profits. Don serves as co-lead of multiple NSF-funded projects, including: the INCLUDES Aspire Alliance, the Inclusive STEM Teaching Project, ACCESS+, and LED-BIO. Don joins the Wei LAB as the Assistant Director and a Research Scientist.

Wei LAB Research Affiliate Dr. Dajanae Palmer will start her new position starting as a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Qualitative Inquiry at the University of Missouri, Columbia in the Fall 2022. Prior to beginning this new position, Dr. Palmer served the Wei LAB as a Postdoctoral Research Scholar.

In this position, Dr. Palmer will serve the entire College of Education and Human Development. She will work with other faculty in the Qualitative Research Consortium helping students with their qualitative inquiry needs, and will also be involved with the campus-wide doctoral certificate in Qualitative Research.

Wei LAB members (from left to right), Dr. Dajanae Palmer, Blayne Stone Jr., Dr. Brian A. Burt, Josh Wallace, and Tiaira Porter, spoke to UW-Madison’s Brauer Group Lab in April 2022. The Brauer Group Lab is a social psychology research lab that focuses on group phenomena, with a goal of understanding how individual’s thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors are shaped by being a member of a specific social group.

The Wei LAB team spoke with the Brauer Group Lab on how to create positive cultures of community in research teams. A Brauer Group Lap member shares on how beneficial the Wei LAB members presentation was through their statement that “This was one of my favorite lab meetings this year!”

Wei LAB Director, Dr. Brian A. Burt was the lead author on a recent article co-authored by Research Associate, Blayne Stone Jr. and other colleagues. The article was titled, “Team Culture of Community: Cultural Practices for Scientific Team Cohesion and Productivity,” and was published in The Journal of Small Group Research (2022).

The article examines twelve focus groups to look at the development of positive team cultures among research teams. Through the examination, the article proposes six interconnected cultural practices that can be used to promote a culture of community in collaborative research settings.

Dr. Selyna P. Beverly (Postdoctoral Research Fellow)

Sofia Garcia Garbuno

(Research Associate)

Devin Henry

(Research Associate)

The Wei LAB is excited to introduce our newest team members, Dr. Selyna P. Beverly, Sofia Garcia Garbuno, and Devin Henry.

Dr. Selyna P. Beverly joins the LAB as a Postdoctoral Researcher. She recently received her doctoral degree from the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; additionally, she has a Bachelor of Arts from UC Santa Barbara and a Master’s of Arts in Students Affairs Administration from Michigan State University. She joins the Wei Lab to work on the National Science Foundation’s INCLUDES Aspire Alliance’s National Change Project. Additionally, we would like to congratulate Dr. Selyna P. Beverly on her successful dissertation defense!

Sofia Garcia Garbuno joins the Wei LAB as a Research Associate. Sofia is currently pursuing a master’s in Higher Education through the Education Leadership & Policy Analysis (ELPA) Department in the School of Education. They earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as two certificates in Chicano/Latine Studies and Gender & Women’s Studies. In the LAB, Sofia will be working on a research project, examining equity and social justice in higher education graduate programs, in collaboration with the Dr. Melvin C. Terrell Foundation.

Devin Henry joins the Wei LAB as a Research Associate. Devin is a doctoral student in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA) Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Education. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, and his Master’s degree in Adult Education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. His research focuses on educational equity and socioeconomic dispositions.

The Wei LAB would like to extend special thanks to all those who have contributed to aiding us in pursuing our mission. Your donations allow the Wei LAB to continue designing, conducting, and disseminating research that informs policymakers, practitioners, and concerned citizens on how to promote equitable and inclusive learning and work environments in education.

If you would like to support our mission, you can make a gift by mail or online. To donate by mail, please write out a check payable to the University of Wisconsin Foundation. In the memo line, write “Wisconsin Center for Education Research Fund – WEI LAB (12300684).”

The check can be mailed to:

University of Wisconsin Foundation

U.S. Bank Lockbox

P.O. Box 78236

Milwaukee, WI 53278-0236

To donate online, please click the link below and you will be redirected to the UW-Foundation website.