Faculty Features

Dr. Elizabeth Pope

Associate Professor of Practice, Educational Psychology

Dr. Pope is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Arizona. Her research focuses on various aspects of social-emotional development and well-being, including the role of teacher–student relationships, understanding students’ experiences of failure, and exploring how students and teachers cope with stress and trauma associated with COVID-19. The purpose of her research is to identify practices and systemic changes that support healthy, successful experiences for all learners.

Dr. Pope is an alumna of the University of Arizona, where she earned her doctoral degree in Educational Psychology with a minor in Special Education in 2014. Prior to her graduate studies, she worked as an elementary school teacher in both Florida and Arizona, in general and special education settings. Her experience in elementary classrooms serves as a foundation for many of her research interests. Dr. Pope works with undergraduate and graduate students, teaching courses such as Childhood and Adolescent Development, Psychological Measurement in Education, Motivation in Learning and Development, and other introductory educational psychology courses. She teaches both in person and through innovative, interactive eLearning formats online. In recognition of her excellence in teaching and dedication to students, Dr. Pope was nominated for the Spring 2023 Five Star Faculty Award.

Elizabeth Pope

"I am inspired by the optimism and energy of the undergraduates that I work with. Their enthusiasm gives me great hope for the future. The determination, passion, and resilience of graduate students is also incredibly inspiring."

Who do you draw inspiration from and why?
The many students I have had the pleasure of working with. I am inspired by the optimism and energy of the undergraduates that I work with. Their enthusiasm gives me great hope for the future. The determination, passion, and resilience of graduate students is also incredibly inspiring. They make me want to continue to push for positive change.

What are one or two accomplishments of which you are most proud?
I am very proud of the work we were able to do advocating for faculty, staff, teachers, and students in Arizona during COVID. I was a part of two, NSF RAPID grants focused on supporting the emergent needs of students, faculty, and instructional staff at HSI’s in Arizona and students and teachers in local elementary schools as they returned to classrooms following the stay-at-home orders of 2020. The data collected from both projects allowed us to advocate for financial, technological, academic, and mental-health services to support teachers and students continue their important work during a very challenging time.

"The data collected from both projects allowed us to advocate for financial, technological, academic, and mental-health services to support teachers and students continue their important work during a very challenging time."

What advice would you give to your younger self?
That it’s going to be OK, YOU are going to be OK. It won’t be perfect, but you’ll figure it out.

 

What is something you are working on currently that you’re excited about?
For the past several years I have been fortunate enough to collaborate with the School Garden Workshop housed in the School of Geography in SBS. SGW is an incredible example of the powerful impact that collaboration between the University, the community, and schools can have on student learning and well-being. Through the generosity of community donors and with the support of SGW staff and university interns, over 60 gardens in Pk-12 schools in the Tucson Unified School District are thriving as places of active learning. We would like to be able to secure funding to capture the impact that work in the gardens has on student well-being and interest in STEM over time. I am excited to be able to support their efforts to continue to share the many benefits of comprehensive school garden programs with others.

"School Gardens Workshops is an incredible example of the powerful impact that collaboration between the University, the community, and schools can have on student learning and well-being."

Explore Dr. Elizabeth Pope's Publications:

PAST FEATURES

Jonathan Tullis
Dr. Jonathan Tullis
Tamara Lawson
Dr. Dr. Tamara Lawson
Heather Haeger
Dr. Heather Haeger
Dr. Christina Rivera
Dr. Christina Rivera
Carol Brochin
Dr. Carol Brochin
Melody Buckner
Dr. Melody Buckner
matt ostermeyer headshot, standing outside under a sunny sky, wearing a black polo, arms crossed
Dr. Matt Ostermeyer
Cindy Cruz headshot, wearing eyeglasses, short black curly hair, plain blouse
Dr. Cindy Cruz
A warm and softly lit portrait of Dr. Sung Eun Jung smiling at the camera. She has long, dark hair and is wearing a cream-colored sweater with a delicate drop earring.
Dr. Sung Eun Jung
Professional portrait of Chi Nguyen smiling in front of a blurred background of colorful bookshelves. She wears glasses, dangling earrings, a delicate necklace with a round pendant, and a dark blazer over a light-colored top. Her hair is neatly styled, and she appears confident and approachable.
Dr. Chi Nguyen
Portrait of Lia Falco
Dr. Lia Falco
Ashley D. Domínguez
Dr. Ashley D. Domínguez
Yousra smiles in a professional headshot taken outdoors in front of green ivy. She wears a white collared shirt, a black blazer, and a delicate necklace, with long brown hair and natural makeup.
Dr. Yousra Abourehab
Adult and child hands gently holding a heart-shaped puzzle made of colorful interlocking pieces, symbolizing autism awareness, against a bright blue background.
Dr. MacFarland and Dr. Lansey
Portrait of Alex Lynch standing in front of a teal metal wall, wearing a black button-up shirt with white polka dots, and smiling slightly at the camera.
Alex Lynch
A person stands outdoors in front of a large agave plant and flowering bushes, with a red brick building in the background. They are smiling and wearing a light gray herringbone blazer with gold buttons over a white shirt. The lighting suggests it is a sunny day.
Dr. Z Nicolazzo
A woman stands smiling between two University of Arizona mascots, Wilbur and Wilma Wildcat. Wilma wears a cheerleading outfit with a red bow, and Wilbur wears a basketball uniform with the number 21 and a blue cowboy hat. They are outdoors in front of a stone wall and tree.
Dr. Crystal M. Soltero
Portrait of Katherine Cheng
Dr. Katherine (Kat) Cheng
A smiling woman with wavy gray hair and glasses resting on her head takes a selfie outdoors with a scenic landscape of rolling hills, trees, and a cloudy sky in the background. She is wearing a light blue jacket and appears to be on an elevated viewpoint.
Dr. Laurie Seder
Portrait of Dr. Desiree Vega, a woman with curly brown hair, smiling and posing with arms crossed. She is wearing a black blazer over a floral-patterned dress. The background features green plants and a modern rust-colored metal wall.
Dr. Desiree Vega
Craig Wilson
Dr. Craig Wilson
Portrait of Robert Berry, a bald man wearing glasses, a navy blue suit, white dress shirt, and a red tie. He is smiling and standing outdoors in front of green foliage, with a University of Arizona lapel pin on his suit jacket.
Dr. Robert Q. Berry III
adai tefera headshot
Dr. Adai Tefera
A smiling woman with curly black hair stands in a desert landscape during golden hour. She is wearing a colorful, patterned maxi dress with a high neckline. The background features cacti, desert shrubs, and distant mountains bathed in warm sunlight.
Dr. Renae Mayes
Portrait of a smiling woman with short, curly black hair, wearing pearl earrings, a mustard-yellow blouse, and a black cardigan. She is standing outdoors in front of large agave plants and greenery.
Dr. Sybil Durand
A smiling woman with long, dark dreadlocks wearing a red University of Arizona shirt takes a selfie in front of a bookshelf filled with books, awards, and a framed photograph
Dr. Dawn Demps
desiree cueto headshot
Dr. Desiree Cueto