Veronica Smith

Veronica Smith, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Education. Her research focuses on child development, interventions for children with developmental disabilities, and evidence-based educational practices. She served as a clinical Speech and Language Pathologist before her academic career, influencing her interest in bridging gaps between research and community implementation. She co-leads the PACE Coaching Project, a BC Ministry-funded initiative developing parent coaching interventions for at-risk toddlers with suspected autism spectrum disorder.

Education: MA in Speech Pathology from Western Washington University (1985).

Research Interests: Prioritizes community-engaged, knowledge translation-oriented studies. Key areas include autism intervention efficacy, parent coaching models, and mindfulness in education. Recent work explores technology’s role in middle school learning and cost-effectiveness of early interventions.

Teaching: Currently teaches courses like EDPY 535 (Learning & Human Development), EDPY 586A/B (Special Education Assessment), and EDPY 903 (Directed Research). These courses emphasize practical applications in special education and developmental psychology.

Grants/Projects: Co-investigator on the PACE Project (2017-2020), focusing on implementing evidence-based interventions in community settings. Her work integrates program evaluation and stakeholder collaboration.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with early interventionists across 14 BC communities, emphasizing scalable solutions for developmental disabilities. Engages with policymakers to translate research into practice frameworks.