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The Clinical Center for the Study of Development & Learning UNC Center For Development & Learning

Faculty & Staff Bio

Faculty
Psychology

Rebecca Edmondson Pretzel, PhD
Psychologist
Psychology Section Head
Clinical Director
Clinical Assistant Professor,
Department of Psychiatry, UNC Chapel Hill

 

EDUCATION
  • Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1992, School Psychology
  • Psychology Internship Georgetown University 1991-92, Clinical Psychology
  • M.Ed. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1990, School Psychology
  • M.Ed. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1988, Educational Psychology
  • B.A. Emory and Henry College 1982, Elementary Education

RESEARCH AND CLINICAL INTERESTS

Early childhood development, low incidence disabilities in young children, screening and diagnosis of autism, comorbidity of autism and visual impairment, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teaming, and assistive technology

PERSONAL STATEMENT

I grew up and went to college in southwest Virginia and, subsequently, taught kindergarten there for five years. During that time, I grew increasingly interested in the developmental and behavioral trajectories of young children, both the commonalities and unique differences.  Based on this interest, I went to graduate school at UNC-CH in School Psychology, specializing in early intervention.  My particular area of focus is in assessing and developing intervention plans for infants and young children at risk for or with developmental disabilities, specifically those with visual impairment, autism, and low incidence disorders and rare diseases.  Along with several colleagues at CDL, I have had a variety of contracts with the state of North Carolina, have published articles and book chapters, and provide training frequently on topics related to assessment and intervention in early childhood.

Currently, I am involved in a number of different projects that include: an epidemiological study of children with and without autism, the development of professional resources and training on evidence-based practices in autism, survey research assessing satisfaction with and access to services in NC for adults with intellectual and other disabilities, conducting best practice interdisciplinary AAC assessments, and training interdisciplinary autism and AAC assessment teams across the state.

In my free time, I enjoy traveling to new places, engaging in outdoor activities, reading, vacationing at the beach, and spending time with my family. 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
2005 – present      Co-Clinical Director, Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
2002 – present           Psychology Section Head, Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
1992 – present           Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC

RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Pretzel, R., Hiemenz, J. & Kahng, R. (revision in press, 2008).   Assessment of young children:
             Standards, stages, and approaches.  In S.R.Hooper & W. Umansky (Eds.)  Young Children
             with Special Needs (Fifth edition),Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Boucher, S., Hodgson, K., & Pretzel, R. (2007). Assessment of autism spectrum disorders in early l
             childhood:  selected screening and diagnostic measures. Maryland School Psychologists’ Association Protocol, XXVII,
             4, Gaithersburg, MD.
Smith, T. M., Pretzel, R., & Landry, K. (2001).  Infant assessment.  In R. Simeonsson, &
             S. Rosenthal (Eds.) Psychological and Developmental Assessment:  Children with disabilities and chronic
             conditions, New York, NY:  The Guilford PressCo.
Edmondson, R. & Reinhartsen, D. (1998).  The young child with cleft lip and palate: 
             Intervention needs in the first three years.  Infants and Young Children, 11(2), 12-20.

Hooper, S. R. & Edmondson, R.: (1998).  Developmental stages and factors affecting development.  In W. Umansky & S.
             R.Hooper (Eds.) Young children with special needs (3rd ed.). Columbus:  Prentice-Hall.

Reinhartsen, D. B., Edmondson, R., & Crais, E. R. (1997).  Developing assistive technology strategies for infants and toddlers
             with communication difficulties.  Seminars in Speech and Language, 18, 283-301.
Simeonsson, R., Edmondson, R., Smith, T. M., Carnahan, S., & Bucy, J. E. (1995). Family involvement in multidisciplinary
             team evaluation: professional and parent perspectives.  Child: Care, Health & Development, v21, n3.

Edmondson, R. & Smith, T.M. (Winter 1994).  Temperament and behavor of infants prenatally exposed to drugs: 
             implications for the mother-infant dyad. Infant Mental Health Journal,  v15, n4, 368-379.
Edmondson, R. (1994).  Prenatal substance exposure.  In Simeonsson, R.J. (Ed.)
             Risk, Resilience and Prevention:  Promoting the Well-being of At-risk Children and Youth,            
              Baltimore:  Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company, 151-168.

Bailey, D. B., Buysse, V., Edmondson, R., & Smith, T.M. (1992).  Creating family-centered
             services in early intervention:  perceptions of professionals in four states.  Exceptional Children, 58(4), 298-309.