Pamela Shanahan Bazis, Ph.D., CALT-QI
LAB DIRECTOR
Email: pbazis2@unl.edu
Dr. Pam Bazis is the director of the LIT Lab, Co-director of the Kit and Dick Schmoker Reading Center, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Before moving into post-secondary education, Dr. Bazis served in several instructional and supervisory roles at the K-12 level, including classroom teacher, reading specialist, instructional coach, and district dyslexia coordinator. She is an ALTA Certified Academic Language Therapist and Qualified Instructor, providing professional development to elementary teachers on evidence-based reading and writing practices.
Dr. Bazis is interested in the interdependent nature of reading and writing cognitive processes and the connection in efficient, effective instructional practices. Her research focuses on developing and testing interventions and instructional strategies that increase foundational literacy skills for elementary students and the teachers working with those students.
Current Lab Members
Eysl Behk
GRADUATE RESEARCHER
Eysl Behk is a graduate student in the Clinical Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) program at UNL. She graduated with a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and an Anthropology minor with a focus on linguistic and sociocultural anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin. Eysl currently works as a graduate research assistant in the Literacy Matters: Reading & Writing Intervention Lab. Her interests include outreach and helping equip individuals with communication needs, both children and adults, with the necessary resources and knowledge to succeed. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, music, documentaries, and spending time with loved ones.
Tristan Kingery
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
I am an undergraduate student with a major in psychology and minors in business and software development. I currently work at Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster County and have been working there for over a year. My goal after graduation is to get my PhD and start my own practice as a pediatric clinical psychologist. Within our research, I hope to help our participants improve their literacy skills while having fun along the way. I have a plethora of hobbies, including athletics (specifically baseball and football), video games, and hanging out with my family.
Carson Kiesel
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
Carson Kiesel is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in Psychology with an emphasis in Behavioral Neuroscience. As a Research Assistant in the Literacy Matters Reading and Writing Intervention Lab and a UCARE recipient, Carson is actively engaged in research exploring the cognitive processes and instructional interpretation of students. His work involves developing questions for interventional materials to explore strategies for better learning. This passion for understanding how students think and learn was initially ignited by his experience volunteering at the Lincoln Lighthouse.
Addison Stultz
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
Addison Stultz is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders with an emphasis in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and minoring in Education Studies and Psychology. Her passion for working with children has grown through her three years of experience working at an elementary school, where she has developed a strong interest in supporting children’s growth, learning, and development. She has also volunteered with children in various settings, further strengthening her desire to make a positive impact in their lives and help guide them toward success. Addison hopes to pursue a career as a speech-language pathologist, specializing in working with children and supporting their communication and developmental needs.
Lab Alumni
Dr. Danika Lang
POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCHER
Dr. Danika Lang is a Registered Behavior Technician at Heartland ABA and is currently pursuing certification as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) at the University of Kansas. She earned her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2024, with doctoral research focused on integrating academic and behavioral supports for students with emotional and behavioral disorders who struggle with reading. As an aspiring behavior analyst, Dr. Lang is particularly interested in how core principles of applied behavior analysis—such as reinforcement, punishment, motivating operations, and stimulus control—can be used to create effective behavior change programs for individuals with autism, ADHD, and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).