The CU Boulder-led Balancing the Components of a Comprehensive School Safety Framework, published through the National Institute of Justice, offers evidence-based strategies to enhance safety in K-12 schools. The report was led by Sarah Goodrum, research professor in the Prevention Science Program and director of the Violence Prevention Project, as well as Beverly Kingston, Sabrina Arredondo Mattson, Susanne Argamaso, Amanda Matthews, and Jody Witt. Goodrum sat down with Science Writer Lisa Marshall to discuss what insights can be taken from the report and how it makes an impact on school safety.
It’s been three years since Russia launched an attack on Ukraine. President Trump believes negotiations are on the horizon. But Ukraine has not been invited to participate in these negotiations. Sarah Wilson Sokhey, associate professor of political science and fellow at the Institute of Behavioral Science, studies the politics of post-communist European countries and recently hosted a multi-semester long Ukrainian Justice Series. She sat down with CUBT’s Jennifer Soules and Nicholas Gouda to discuss these new relationship dynamics under Trump.
For many small farms in biodiverse areas, balancing economic survival with forest conservation is a daily challenge. Savannah Lehnert, a Ph.D. student in environmental studies at CU Boulder and Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS) research assistant, aims to help farmers balance economic and environmental sustainability through the IBS Training Program Fall Small Grant Award. The $1,500 award will fund preliminary fieldwork and language training essential for her research.
“I hope to contribute to conservation efforts by generating a better understanding of different mechanisms that can be used to support people’s livelihoods and wildlife within agroforestry systems. Because agriculture intensification is occurring globally, this research is highly relevant to agroforestry systems elsewhere.”
The small grant will help Lehnert achieve three research objectives:
Achieve Brazilian Portuguese language proficiency via a two week in-situ language school.
Establish a network of collaborations with local landowners and with scientists at the Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC) in Bahia, Brazil.
Scout potential field site locations within cacao farms that implement different management strategies.
Southern Bahia in Brazil produces half of the country’s raw cacao. It is also home to a large portion of the Atlantic Forest, one of 35 biodiversity hotspots in the world. The majority of Bahian cacao is grown by smallholder farmers in traditional agroforestry systems called ‘cabrucas’, in which cacao plants are grown under native Atlantic Forest canopy.
Due to market pressures, many cacao farmers are intensifying production by removing native trees that provide habitat for rare and endangered species. Given that only 12% of the original Atlantic Forest biome remains, it is crucial to find a balance between economic and environmental sustainability.
“I seek to understand how a combination of different on-farm management strategies and forms of external support (e.g., enrollment in certification programs) can be employed to optimize both biodiversity and economic farm outcomes,” says Lehnert. “Strategies for conservation need to be developed that go hand in hand with economic security for local landowners and managers.”
Lehnert has been passionate about protecting biodiversity and wild places since childhood. She was initially drawn to environmental science for its “Indiana Jones” appeal and allure of being able to travel to remote places.
“Since then, I have found larger appeal in conservation biology and environmental studies because these disciplines tend to consider environmental problems within the context of social and economic issues, which I believe produce solutions that are more tailored to the real world,” says Lehnert.
One real world component in Lehnert’s research is an emphasis on compassion and support for the locals who live in biodiverse areas. These individuals depend on the land for their family’s survival. Lehnert warns long-term gains in conservation cannot be made without sustaining locals’ economic and social livelihoods. In addition, Lehnert encourages us to better understand the consequences of our purchasing power.
“The truth is that as consumers in a globalized economy, we are all a part of a system that drives deforestation in biodiverse regions such as the Amazon and the Atlantic Forest,” says Lehnert. “As consumers with buying power, especially from Global North countries which largely drive demand, it is a responsibility to be literate, or at least aware, about where our food comes from and the consequences of those purchasing decisions.”
After graduation, Lehnert would like to work as a researcher or consultant for a conservation, biology-oriented non-profit in Latin America. A longer-term dream of Lehnert’s is to open a research station in the Chocó region of South America. She has deep emotional ties to this biodiverse hotspot, which faces a myriad of threats. Lehnert hopes to contribute to the region’s conservation in a way that is socially sustainable.
For aspiring graduate students, Lehnert advises taking time off to gain perspective on your research.
“Even if your interests don’t change, your understanding of how you and your work fits into the bigger picture will be better situated,” says Lehnert. “I took three years in between my undergraduate degree and my master’s degree, and again between my master’s and PhD program, and am very grateful for that time in giving me greater perspective.”
With the backing of the IBS Training Program grant, Lehnert is one step closer to making a lasting impact in both environmental conservation and economic sustainability for farmers. Her work in Brazil will help biodiversity thrive amidst human modified landscapes and ensure farmers receive the support they need to be both sustainable and economically prosperous.
When a supervisor expresses gratitude for employees in a way that the employee prefers, that employee will participate more at work. This is according to a recent study from CU Boulder Professor of Organizational Leadership and Information Analytics (OLIA), Dejun “Tony” Kong. Kong will discuss his new research at our upcoming IBS Speaker Series on March 3.
Who: Dejun “Tony” Kong, Associate Professor at Leeds School of Business, Director of OLIA PhD Program, and Faculty Director of the Leadership Certificate Program
When: Monday, March 3 from 12 – 1 p.m. MT
Where: Richard Jessor Building, Room 155 or via Zoom (email ibs-contact@colorado.edu for passcode)
Field: Organizational Leadership and Information Analytics (OLIA), Business Administration
“Feeling appreciated is integral to developing and sustaining high-quality relationships, but many employees do not feel appreciated at work,” – Tony Kong
For his talk, Kong will share his risk regulation model (RRM) showing the relationships among supervisor gratitude expression, employee felt appreciation, and employee voice at work. Kong and his team performed a systemic analysis using an inductive multi-step process with pilot studies. They then tested their model with 124 supervisor-employee dyads. Kong will discuss the theoretical and practical applications of his findings.
The IBS Speaker Series is open to all CU Boulder faculty, staff, and students as well as the public. This talk is hosted by the Health and Society Program at the Institute of Behavioral Science.
This talk is specifically of interest for people who:
Want to understand how to better connect with teammates or collaborators
Want to better connect with employees and boost team moral
Are interested in organizational leadership, team dynamics, information analytics, or relationships
Kong is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and a top 2 percentile scientist (based on single years) in the world (ranked by Elsevier BV and Stanford University). He is also a Poets & Quants 40-under-40 Best Business Professor (2019). He has published nearly 70 journal articles, many of which appear in top journals in Management and Psychology, and 1 co-edited book. His research addresses the following overarching question: How can we enable people to be more prosocial (to promote others or collective interests)? To address this question, he focuses on three streams of research: (1) fostering individuals’ positive experiences, (2) fostering excellent organizational systems, and (3) fostering a high-trust society. He has received many awards for his research, teaching, and service. He is an associate editor of the Journal of Management and the Journal of Organizational Behavior. In 2024, he was elected to be Program Chair-Elect (a five-year leadership track) of the Academy of Management’s Conflict Management Division.
On February 23 1945, during the Battle of Iwo Jima, 20-year-old Marine and future IBS co-founder, Richard Jessor witnessed the iconic flag-raising on Mount Suribachi. After days of intense combat and personal injury from shrapnel, Jessor recalls the profound impact of seeing the American flag hoisted atop the mountain, a moment that bolstered the morale of U.S. forces and symbolized a turning point in the battle. Read more about Jessor’s recount of the flag raising with Bradley Worrell for CU Boulder’s College of Arts and Sciences Magazine.
Targeted violence can be prevented – if we have the right systems in place. That’s why Sarah Goodrum, research professor in the Prevention Science Program, has partnered with the CU Boulder Police Department. According to Goodrum, attackers exhibit observable planning behaviors and communicate their intentions prior to committing acts of violence. To address this, Goodrum has collaborated with CU Boulder Police to enhance early identification and intervention strategies for preventing targeted violence. These efforts strengthen partnerships between law enforcement and researchers, promoting a holistic approach to campus and community safety, and providing a model for other institutions to adopt.
Read more about this partnership on CU Boulder Today:
Room 155 was overflowing with visitors on the cold afternoon of Tuesday, January 28. Folks from across the University of Colorado as well as state and local government representatives gathered in the largest conference room at the Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS) to celebrate a momentous occasion: our new building name.
The IBS building is now the Richard Jessor Building, named in honor of behavioral science pioneer and IBS co-founder, Dr. Richard Jessor. Jessor attended with his children, Kim and Tom Jessor, and wife, Jane Menken. Jessor was given an award at the event commemorating his decades of service to the Institute and commitment to finding solutions to society’s most pressing challenges. He remarked that the event “was the capstone event of his entire career.”
The name change was approved by CU Boulder’s Board of Regents back in September 2024. A few months later, Dr. Jessor celebrated his 100th birthday. Jessor was then honored by the City of Boulder with a designated “Dick Jessor Day” on December 19, 2024.
The event began with an introduction by IBS Director, Lori Hunter, as well as commentary from CU Boulder Chancellor, Justin Schwartz. The event also featured flash talks from all five IBS programs:
Director of the Natural Hazards Center, Lori Peek, represented the Environment and Society Program with her talk, “What Do you Do When the Earth Shakes? Earthquake Early Warning and Schools in the Western United States.”
IBS Fellow, Jaroslav Tir, represented the Program on International Development with his talk, “Terror Attack Blame and the Rally Around the Flag Phenomenon.”
IBS Fellow, Jessica Finlay, represented the Health and Society Program with her talk, “Cognability: How environments matter for dementia risk.”
Director for the Population Program, Amanda Stevenson, represented her program with the talk, “How access to contraception impacts Coloradans’ lives.”
Sarah Goodrum represented the Prevention Science Program with her talk, “A Comprehensive Approach to School Safety: Lessons Learned from Research and Practice.
Representative Joe Neguse, a CU Boulder alum, also made an appearance. He affirmed his commitment to funding the important research at the Institute and CU Boulder at large. In addition to Neguse, IBS hosted a staff member from State Representative Gabe Evans of Colorado District 8, a staff member for State Representative Brittany Pettersen of Colorado District 7, and the senior policy advisor for the Colorado Lt. Governor Primavera. We also hosted representatives from the Boulder City Council and the Mayor of Boulder, Aaron Brockett.
After the ribbon cutting, guests had time to explore the Richard Jessor Building and all 11 Institute programs and centers that call it home. Each floor featured different programs and centers, along with unique catering and an overview video. Notable attendees included several members of the Youth Violence Prevention Center – Denver’s “Game Changers”, a program initiated by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV).
The success of this event is in large part to the excellent team at IBS, including Byung-Jun Choe, Meg Quiat, Tamara Tiner, Kelly Holguin and Lori Hunter. We are excited for the next chapter of IBS at the Richard Jessor Building, and we hope the event helps our community know more about the incredible work we do.
A recent study led by Stephen Billings, associate professor of finance at the Leeds School of Business and IBS fellow, examines the impact of institutional investors converting single-family homes into rental properties. Focusing on Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, the research found that such investor activity leads to declines in property values by up to 2%, reduced property maintenance, lower voter engagement, and increased crime rates. Billings notes that as neighborhoods see an influx of rental properties, the transient nature of tenants can erode community cohesion and long-term investment in the area’s well-being. Read more about the study on CU Boulder Today:
Can access to greenspace impact mental health? A team lead by Associate Professor of Geography, Colleen Reid and PhD candidate, Emma Rieves, found a correlation between connection with nature, not just access, and improved mental health. Reid and Rieves’ study is unique in its focus on the subjective experiences of participants. They found that how much an individual believes they have access to nature and how often they engage with it play a crucial role in mental well-being, particularly in reducing anxiety. The study emphasizes the importance of designing urban environments that foster both physical access to nature and a sense of connection to it.
Learn more about the study with CU Boulder Arts and Sciences Magazine:
