School Psychology and Educational Leadership
Joel Bocanegra, PhD
Department Chair | Professor of School Psychology
Office: College of Education 108 A
Dr. Joel O. Bocanegra earned his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a concentration in School Psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 2014. He is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and a licensed psychologist. Dr. Bocanegra joined Idaho State University in 2014 and currently serves as Chair of the Department of School Psychology and Educational Leadership. His research focuses on training and supervision, systems-level change, mental health, and the integration of technology in practice.
Chung-Hau (Howard) Fan, PhD
Program Coordinator | Professor of School Psychology
Office: College of Education 108B D
Dr. Howard Fan completed his Ph.D. in School Psychology at the University of Iowa in 2011. He holds the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential and is currently a professor in the Department of School Psychology and Educational Leadership at Idaho State University. His professional and research interests include improving response-to-intervention (RTI) methodologies, such as reducing measurement error in progress monitoring and developing systemic troubleshooting approaches for effective RTI implementation. He is also interested in school-wide positive behavior support, special education leadership, and behavioral consultation training.
Erika K. Coles, PhD
Associate Professor of School Psychology
Office: College of Education 107 A
Dr. Erika Coles completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo in 2007. She is currently an Associate Professor in the School Psychology and Educational Leadership Department at Idaho State University, as well as a licensed psychologist. Her research interests include the dissemination of evidence-based interventions for ADHD and related disorders, particularly in regular education classrooms.
Nai-Jiin Yang, PhD
EMPWRing Grant Coordinator
Office: College of Education Room 375
Focus areas: School Mental Health
Nai-Jiin (Jiin) Yang, Ph.D., is a school psychologist and researcher committed to improving youth mental health, particularly in rural and underserved communities. She earned her doctorate from Utah State University and completed her pre-doctoral internship at the APA-accredited Northwest Neurobehavioral Health in Meridian, Idaho. Dr. Yang currently serves as the EMPWRing Grant Coordinator at Idaho State University, where she partners with local educational agencies, community organizations, and state leaders to expand training programs, strengthen the school psychology workforce, and advance culturally responsive, evidence-based practices that build lasting systems of support for children and adolescents.
Yi-Chih Chiang, PhD
Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership
Office: College of Education 381
Yi-Chih Chiang is an assistant professor of P –12 Educational Administration at Idaho State University. Her research uses an equity lens to examine education reform, focusing on policy implementation, school improvement, and educator professional learning. Her research investigates (1) teacher leaders’ career trajectories in the educator labor market and their roles in fostering organizational improvement and effective policy implementation and (2) how policy implementation is shaped by discourse and stakeholder engagement, with a particular emphasis on addressing systemic inequities in education. Her dissertation delves into a human resources analysis of instructional coaches in Michigan, examining their distribution patterns, teaching expertise, and career pathways. Yi-Chih holds a PhD in K-12 Educational Administration from Michigan State University, an EdM in Education Policy & Administration from National Taiwan Normal University, and a BA in Finance from National Taiwan University.
Donald Hastings, EdD
Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership
Office: College of Education Room 377
Dr. Donald S. Hastings is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Idaho State University, specializing in leadership, trust, motivation, and effective instruction. He teaches graduate-level courses and guides dissertation research, drawing on over three decades of experience as a K–12 teacher, principal, and district administrator. A two-time award winner, Dr. Hastings has been recognized with the prestigious Texas Monthly Top Schools Award and as the Norwalk-La Mirada USD Site Administrator of the Year. He earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and his Master's in applied psychology and education administration
Sue Kater, PhD
Assistant Professor of Higher Education
Susan (Sue) Kater, PhD, is a Higher Education faculty member at Idaho State University, Editor-in-Chief of New Directions for Community Colleges, and a consultant for the League for Innovation in the Community College. She previously served as a community college administrator in the Maricopa Community Colleges, including roles as Special Assistant to Chancellor Rufus Glasper and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Planning at GateWay Community College. Dr. Kater earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Arizona with a focus on community colleges. Her research and publications focus on community college faculty, shared governance, trustees, and students’ basic needs. She has served as national president of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges and holds leadership roles with the Community College Review and the Center for the Study of Community Colleges.
Richard Wagoner, PhD
Professor of Practice
Office: College of Education 365