Dr. Brock

Laura Brock

Associate Professor

Education

  • 2004-2008  University of Virginia. Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Applied Developmental Science.

Research Interests

Laura Brock is an Associate Professor in the Teacher Education Department at the College of Charleston. She entered the profession as a special educator working with adjudicated adolescents in residential treatment facilities. Dr. Brock became interested in the relation between cognitive and emotion regulation and returned to graduate school to gain a deeper appreciation for the ways in which early contextual processes can promote healthful developmental trajectories. As a Research Fellow for the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, she conducted longitudinal examinations of the ways in which we can intervene with at-risk youth to close the achievement gap and buffer children from the long-term consequences of exposure to adverse early environments. Her current research agenda includes interventions aimed at reducing risk and promoting resilience in local school contexts, in collaboration with colleagues across institutions. She is interested in the role of emotional consistency in healthful developmental trajectories, as well as the relation between early fine-motor, visuo-spatial, executive function skills, and children's adjustment, and the impact of early social and emotional skill development on long-term outcomes.

Courses Taught 

  • EDEE 407: Creating Learning Environments 
  • EDEE 690: Creating Effective Learning Communities 
  • EDFS 303: Human Growth and the Educational Process 
  • EDFS 654: Human Growth and Development 
  • EDFS 635: Educational Research Methods 
  • MTLA 702: Research and Development Projects 
  • EDEE 459: Middles Grades Clinical Practice 
  • EDFS 460: Clinical Practice in the Content Areas 
  • EDFS 427: Mathematics and Reasoning for Students with Disabilities 
  • EDFS 440: Clinical Practice in Special Education 

 Selected Publications

Swanson, J., (2014-2019). Talent Development Academies. Javits Gifted and Talented Student Education Programs. U.S. Department of Education. L.L. Brock: Co-Investigator, Faculty Partner, and Project Evaluator. 


Grissmer, D. W., & Mashburn, A. (2013-2017). Efficacy Follow Up and Implementation Evaluation of the WINGS After-School Social and Emotional Learning Program. Social Innovation Funding through Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. University of Virginia. L.L. Brock: Principal Investigator for College of Charleston Sub-Award. 


Grissmer, D. W., & Mashburn, A. (2011-2015). Efficacy of the WINGS After-School Social and Emotional Learning Program. Institute of Education Sciences. University of Virginia. L.L. Brock: Principal Investigator for College of Charleston Sub-Award. 


Grissmer, D. W., & Mashburn, A. (2009-2012). The Impact of Fine Motor Skill Training on Math Achievement for At-Risk Youth. National Institutes of Child Health and Development. University of Virginia. L.L. Brock: Principal Investigator for College of Charleston Sub-Award. 


Grissmer, D. W., Grimm, K., & Konold, T. (2009-2011). Developing Intervention Strategies to Close Kindergarten Readiness Gaps for Minority and Disadvantaged Children. National Science Foundation. University of Virginia. L.L. Brock: substantive consultant in developmental psychology. 

Honors & Awards

2004-2008 Institute of Education Sciences Interdisciplinary Research Training Fellow: Risk and Prevention in the Education Sciences.