July 15, 2025

By Louis Huler 

Ursula Connolly, a former TV and theater actress, is one of the newest graduates of Drexel’s EdS in School Psychology program. After more than 2 decades of success working in the entertainment industry in New York, during which time she also raised 3 children, the average person might have called it a day. Yet Ursula wanted more, looking to see the effects of her work in schools. It was this desire that led her to Drexel’s School of Education.

More than just an opportunity to learn more and expand her career, Ursula had a personal connection to the work of the School Psychology program, a graduate program which focuses on cultivating learning that addresses real issues within school systems. Her eldest son, now 17, grew up with learning disabilities, a struggle that stuck with her as a mother. The program allowed her to not just learn more about the systems in place for kids like him, but to get more involved with efforts to improve his education.

“I saw him really struggle academically, socially, everything. I basically stopped my world just to fix it.” Connolly reflects, on raising her child. “He was diagnosed with severe dyslexia, ADHD, a whole bunch of sensory things. The more I read through his reports, the more I understood the way the education system worked, and how many hoops you have to jump through to navigate it as a parent. I was just kind of blown away.”

This personal drive to improve things for her son grew into a drive to change the system from the inside. Ursula’s son was an inspiring story- after she pushed to give him the proper resources, he blossomed into a great student and is currently set to attend college at Villanova University this fall.

Seeing his success, Ursula knew she couldn’t stop there. “I wanted to make sure I threw the ladder back down and helped other kids. Once I started doing that, I found myself to be much more passionate about that than I was in my current career.” This thinking led her to James Connell, PhD, NCSP, program director of the School Psychology program at Drexel.

The School Psychology program is run in a cohort model. Students take all of their courses together, allowing them to work closely with one another and support each other through the program. Dr. Connell oversees their required field experience hours and provides valuable feedback to each student. He sees the program as a resource for social intervention within public schools, as well as an opportunity for professionals who don’t necessarily have a background in school psychology to get involved.

The intervention comes through special education reform; an avenue Dr. Connell sees as an opportunity to create real systemic change. “It's really about preventing disproportionality in special education for under-resourced kids.” He explains. “The focus of my program has been to prevent unwarranted and unnecessary placements in special education.”

Though Ursula is a graduate of just the program’s second cohort, it’s clear it is making a difference, both to the students and to the community.

Another member of Ursula’s Cohort is Nicole Yencho-Nies, who found her place in the program’s tight-knit community. Unlike Ursula, Nicole grew up with an interest in special education, and even previously worked as a service supervisor, organizing specialists for charter schools. “I just fell in love with special education, and supporting kids with different abilities at a young age. I would volunteer my recess time to go and support the students and just hang out,” she recalls.

But behind the screen support wasn’t permanently satisfactory for Nicole, who wanted hands-on engagement with the kids she was helping, something she was able to achieve through the program. “I feel like when I'm working with the students or talking with the families, being able to give them some direction about their child and how they may learn or what their strengths are and what their challenges are, I feel like that's a better use of my skill set.” She said. “It encourages me.”

Upon completion of the program, Nicole and Ursula are on track for success in special education. Nicole is planning to start a position as a school psychologist in the coming months, every day providing the personal engagement she discovered a passion for. Ursula is also a psychologist, working with a youth special education program. She plans to continue advocacy work within the school system.

Both Nicole and Ursula are testaments to the program’s effectiveness. As they continue to progress in their fields, their success serves as a reminder that regardless of background, making a difference is within reach.

You can learn more about the EdS in School Psychology program at https://drexel.edu/soe/academics/graduate/school-psychology/.