By: Erik Pedersen, Content Strategy Director
BALTIMORE – Dr. Nicole Telfer joined Notre Dame of Maryland University’s faculty as an assistant professor in the Psychology Department this summer. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Telfer has created a research lab on campus to continue a project which aims to increase awareness and support for Black youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Dr. Telfer was awarded a $227K grant by the Brady Education Foundation in the spring to support her research project, which is titled “An Intersectional and African-centered Approach to Understanding Parents’ Ethnic-racial Socialization Practices among Black Students with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities.”
“There is a lot of data out there which states that Black youth with disabilities are more likely to experience harsh disciplinary practices, both on school grounds and beyond, than other students with disabilities,” Dr. Telfer said. “These students need resources and support to help them in educational settings, but also as they navigate the world and transition into adulthood. My hope is that this project provides families with resources needed to help their children be successful.”
Ethnic-racial socialization (ERS) refers to implicit and explicit messages about race, and strategies for coping with racism and discrimination. Dr. Telfer’s project aims to examine the relations between parents’ ERS practices and school engagement/mental health outcomes among Black students with neurodevelopmental disabilities, explore the purposes and goals of Black/African American parents engaging in ERS practices, and understand challenges that arise for Black parents who communicate ERS practices to their children with disabilities through semi-structured interviews or focus groups.
Dr. Telfer’s research lab, the Racial Equity and Liberation (REAL) lab, has provided an opportunity for several NDMU students to gain beneficial, real-world experience while serving as undergraduate research assistants.
“I was introduced to Dr. Telfer’s research through my social psychology course, where she highlighted her work at the REAL lab on racial equity and the unique needs of Black youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities,” said Damilola Oluwole ’25. “Dr. Telfer additionally oversees an independent research project of mine, which has allowed me to further explore and deepen my understanding of clinical and behavioral psychology. Her mentorship and the lab’s focus on impactful, community-centered research aligned with my interests, and that motivated me to join her team.”
The project is still in the early stages of its two-year timeline, with current work focusing on reaching out to potential participants and distributing surveys to both the parent/caregiver and the child. Phase two, which will begin next year, will expand to individual and focus group interviews with parents to understand their racial socialization practices on a deeper level beyond the initial data.
“My responsibilities include interviewing participants and collaborating with organizations to identify and reach eligible participants, which is vital for our data collection and community engagement goals,” said Oluwole. “One important lesson I’ve learned is the amount of dedication needed to build trust and rapport with participants, and the extent of coordination required to engage organizations that serve these communities.”
Dr. Telfer, who earned her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, was awarded her grant while serving as a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. Outside of the classroom, she also serves as faculty advisor for NDMU’s Psychology Club. That organization’s president, Makenzie Morton ’27, is another one of Dr. Telfer’s undergraduate research assistants.
“Several students in my classes are interested in research, and I’m trying to find ways and funding to support their interests,” said Dr. Telfer. “I’m responsible for their growth and learning in the field of psychology, and I want to provide them with both practical and research experiences.”
Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.
Julia Campagna, director of mission and ministry at NDMU, discusses both the history of All Saints' Day and how the holiday is recognized on campus in this USA TODAY feature article.