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Miami SPEC Research Team

Isaac Prilleltensky, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator (PI)
Dean, University of Miami School of Education

Born in Argentina, Dr. Prilleltensky received his M.A. in clinical child psychology from Tel Aviv University in 1983 and his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Manitoba in 1989. While working for eight years as a school psychologist, he discovered the social origins of child and family problems and soon became a community psychologist. He has written or co-edited seven books on community psychology and mental health, and several dozen papers on the subject. More information. 

Scot Evans, Ph.D.
Co-Principal Investigator 

Dr. Evans joined the EPS faculty in August, 2008. He received his Ph.D. in Community Research and Action at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in 2005. He has a master's degree in Human Development Counseling also from Vanderbilt. Dr. Evans also has extensive practical experience in community-based organizations as a youth development worker, crisis worker, family counselor, youth program developer, program evaluator, and organizational consultant. More information.

Randy Penfield, Ph.D.
Co-Principal Investigator

A specialist in educational statistics and measurement, Randall Penfield joined the University of Miami faculty in 2004. He was formerly an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Florida, he served as a statistician for the Education Quality and Accountability Office of the Ontario Ministry of Education in Toronto, Canada. Penfield earned his Ph.D. in applied statistics and measurement from the University of Toronto and holds an M.A. in physiological psychology from York University and a B.S. in psychology from the University of Toronto. More information.

Debbie Nogueras, ARNP, Ph.D. 
Project Director 

Debbie Nogueras joined the University of Miami as a Senior Research Associate in 2007 with a career history of nursing, nursing education and community service. She had served as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Director of Recruitment and Development at Barry University and Assistant Professor of Nursing at Barry University and Miami-Dade College. More information.

Adrine McKenzie, Ph.D.
Research Project Director 

Adrine McKenzie joined the University of Miami in 2008 as a Senior Research Associate in the School of Education where she serves as the Research Director for the Miami SPEC (Strengths, Prevention, Empowerment and Community Change) project. This innovative project, funded by The Children's Trust, aims to transform service delivery towards enhancing the well-being of children and families in the Miami-Dade County. More information.

Ora Prilleltensky, Ed.D. 
Researcher 

Ora Prilleltensky relocated to Miami in August 2006 to join the Department of Educational and Psychological Studies. She moved here from Nashville, TN, where she was a lecturer in the Department of Human and Organizational Development at Vanderbilt University. Her time at Vanderbilt was divided between teaching in the Master's program of Human Development Counseling and the undergraduate program of Human and Organizational Development. More information.