Anjali Forber-Pratt

Assistant Professor, Department of Human and Organizational Development

Research: Dr. Forber-Pratt’s research agenda adopts a social-ecological framework to analyze issues of psychosocial development from a social justice lens. Her work focuses on three main areas of research: 1) disability identity development, 2) perceptions of inclusion and disability, and 3) victimization experiences in schools. Dr. Forber-Pratt’s ultimate goals are to better design interventions to help support individuals making meaning around their own disability and families adjusting to disability. Her lab is in the process of validating a newly created measure of disability identity development and has plans to utilize this measure as part of her grant-funded work with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, as they are interested in long-term outcomes, such as disability identity (among others such as functional independence and self-determination) for persons with paralysis. Dr. Forber-Pratt looks perceptions of disability and inclusion among individuals, school classrooms, schools and districts. Dr. Forber-Pratt also explores experiences of victimization in schools and social-emotional learning outcomes, particularly for students from diverse backgrounds such as students with disabilities. She is also a member of Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, which is one of the top research centers for disability-related work in the country. To learn more about current research projects her lab is engaged with, please refer to: Dr. Forber-Pratt’s research website: https://my.vanderbilt.edu/anjalifp/

Teaching:  Dr. Forber-Pratt’s teaching has included Counseling Diverse Populations – a core course for students in the HDC master’s degree program both face-to-face and online and Appraisal and Assessment--specifically for future school counselors to understand the importance of individual and school-level assessments. At the undergraduate level, Dr. Forber-Pratt has taught Small Group Dynamics.

Service: Dr. Forber-Pratt is chair of the CRA Recruitment Committee and co-chair of the HOD Minority Student Committee. She is actively involved in numerous committees and Boards across the college, University, and the United States. Dr. Forber-Pratt presents regularly at state, national, and international conferences. The Foundation for Global Sports Development recognized her with an Athletes in Excellence award in 2017 for who have been champions not just in sports, but also in their communities by selflessly giving back through mentorship and outreach activities. Dr. Forber-Pratt has appeared on several television programs and radio shows including: NPR; The Stream; and Sesame Street; and has been quoted in the national print press, including The Boston Globe, The New York Times, Huffington Post, USA Today, and Runner’s World. She was honored by the White House as a Champion of Change in 2013 and had an opportunity to participate in a roundtable discussion with President Obama about disability policy issues. 

Community Engagement:  Dr. Forber-Pratt is involved with disability advocacy efforts related to access to employment, education and sport through public speaking and media appearances. She has been actively involved to help create inclusive sport opportunities for individuals with disabilities in Bermuda, India, Zambia and Ghana.