Dr. Lawson earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology at Clark Atlanta University and both her master’s in education and doctorate in School Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She completed her pre-doctoral internship with the Illinois School Psychology Internship Consortium (ISPIC) in Edwardsville, Illinois (APA accredited and APPIC approved). Dr. Lawson's dissertation explored Black adolescents perceptions of culturally responsive teaching practices and how these practices fostered their sense of belonging within the classroom.
Dr. Lawson’s research focuses on three primary areas: 1) culturally responsive teaching (i.e., teaching behaviors, instructional practices, and fostering positive teacher-student relationships), which includes promoting student learning by culturally affirming practices that combat anti-racist frameworks within schools; 2) social, emotional, and behavioral supports for minoritized youth, including the role of school psychologists in the implementation of school-wide behavioral supports; and 3) Black youth's sense of belongingness, which contribute to their academic success and racial identity development.
