Ann Bessell joined the University of Miami in 1999 after obtaining her Ph.D. in special education and reading, She also has a master’s degrees in health occupations education and microbiology, and a bachelor’s degree in medical technology. Her professional goal is to improve the quality of life for children with individual differences, particularly health issues, by providing appropriate and quality educational experiences. Her research emphasizes the importance of collaborative communication among professionals and teaching teachers effective educational strategies to facilitate the learning and social needs of children, particularly those with special needs.

Dr. Bessell also works extensively in the area of program evaluation and serves as project director for the University of Miami Education Evaluation Team (UMEET). Current projects include SunSmart America, a collaborative project with the UM School of Medicine and the RDK Melomoma Foundation; the Florida Family Literacy Initiative; various statewide educational and training programs implemented by the Council for Educational Change; and Smaller Learning Communities, a collaborative effort with the Miami-Dade County Public Schools to transform large high schools into smaller communities. Evaluations have also included ArtReach, an after school arts program for homeless children in Broward County, FL, Helping Families, a literacy initiative involving at-risk 12th-graders and their families in the greater Miami (FL) region, initiatives for the USDOE Community technology Center for Adult and Family Literacy; the 21st Century Community Learning Centers; and the South Florida Annenberg Challenge, (SFAC), a $100 million initiative to raise student achievement with nearly 400 schools participating. Evaluations focused on effective school leadership, school improvement, increased student achievement, quality curriculum and instruction, meaningful professional development, infusion of technology, outreach, the effect of high stakes assessment, and ultimately, sustainable systemic change. Dr. Bessell has consulted and published research in the areas of evaluation, health literacy, and exceptional populations and is a frequent speaker at regional, national, and international conferences as well as community functions.

Bessell publications include:

• Bessell, A. G., Elbaum, B., Mesler, J., & Miller, M. L. (in press). Hospital/Homebound Handbook: Meeting the educational needs of students with chronic illness & special healthcare needs. Florida DOE Clearing House.
• Bessell, A. G., Deese, W. B., & Medina, A. (in press). Photolanguage: How a Picture Can Inspire a Thousand Words. American Journal of Evaluation. Bessell, A.G., Burke (neé Collett), M. C., Lee, O. & Schumm, J.S. (in press). Transforming words into numbers: Using a rating inventory to quantify qualitative data. Field Methods.
• Bessell, A.G., Burke (neé Collett), M. C., Sanders, L. (manuscript under review). Improving Infant Health by Promoting Maternal Health Literacy. Health Education & Behavior.
• Bessell, A.G. (Fall 2005). Family Literacy Programs: The impact of single-year funding on sustainability. Literacy Harvest (12) & Family Literacy Forum (5)3, 24-32.
• Epstein, S. H. & Bessell, A. G. (2002). Transition to preschool for a child with special needs. Exceptional Parent, 32(12), 56-60.
• Bessell, A. G. (2001). Children surviving cancer: Psychosocial adjustment, quality of life, and school experiences. Exceptional Children, 67, 345-359.
• Bessell, A. G. (2001). Educating children with chronic illness. Exceptional Parent, 31(9), 44-48.
• Schumm, J. S., Arguelles, M. E., Bessell, A. G., Giambo, D., Shimizu, W., Valle-Riestra, D., & Zhang, Z. (1998). Cue system usage of students with and without learning disabilities in oral and silent reading. National Reading Conference Yearbook, 44, 377-384.