COE Faculty Profile

Michael W. Bahr, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Division of Educational Psychology, Research and Evaluation

Email: bahrmi@umsl.edu
Office: 461 Marillac Hall
Phone: 314-516-4739

Education and Professional Experience:

Dr. Bahr earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from Cardinal Glennon College and a Master of Education Degree in Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is a graduate of Indiana University's APA-accredited School Psychology Program, where he obtained the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Educational Psychology. 

Dr. Bahr has worked as a psychologist in the states of Tennessee, Michigan, and Indiana. He was a Certified School Psychologist in Michigan and a Licensed School Psychologist in Indiana. He is currently a Certified School Psychologist, State of Missouri. Dr. Bahr has worked as a faculty member in the school psychology programs at Western Michigan University and Indiana State University, and he was a member of the graduate faculty at both institutions.  Dr. Bahr also served as a department chairperson for seven years at Indiana State.

Teaching Interests:

Dr. Bahr's primary professional interests are in the areas of consultation/intervention and multicultural diversity, and these are teaching areas as well. He regularly teaches courses on educational and psychological consultation. Dr. Bahr also teaches seminars in school psychology focusing on a variety of professional issues including professional ethics, the regulation of practice via federal/state law, and development of cultural competence by psychologists.  He also teaches courses in diagnosis and treatment of developmental psychopathology and educational disabilities, psychotherapeutic interventions in schools, and academic/remedial interventions.

Research:

Dr. Bahr's research areas are the same as his instructional interests: consultation/intervention and multicultural diversity. In the area of consultation, Dr. Bahr's research has focused on the efficacy of school-based, problem-solving consultation teams.  Recently, he has collaborated with researchers from the Blumberg Center in Interdisciplinary Studies in Special Education at Indiana State University. This work has involved applying Creative Problem Solving to problem-solving intervention teams. In this capacity, Dr. Bahr previously worked as the Evaluation Coordinator for the Indiana Creative Problem Solving Initiative through the Blumberg Center.

Dr. Bahr's professional experience with diverse learners and families has influenced his research agenda. Although much of his work has focused on broad issues of multiculturalism and the identity development of psychologists, Dr. Bahr's publications have addressed specific topics including race, disability, and affectional orientation. Dr. Bahr is particularly interested in training psychologists who are culturally competent and assist in creating diverse, inclusive environments for all learners.

Accreditation/Program Enhancement:

At the invitation of Dean Charles Schmitz, Dr. Bahr assumed the position of Director of Accreditation and Program Enhancement for the College of Education in July 2008. In this role, Dr. Bahr coordinates the College's accreditation efforts, serves as the NCATE Coordinator, and promotes efforts to monitor and improve the quality of all academic programs in the College. Dr. Bahr chairs the College's Assessment and Evaluation Committee and is the College's representative on the Academic Planning Committee in Academic Affairs. He was the College's representative on the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Steering Committee, whose efforts contributed to full accreditation of the University of Missouri-St. Louis by the HLC.

Recent Publications: Books/Chapters/Monographs

• Hampton, E., Bahr, M. W., Walker, K., & Buddle, B.  (2006). Factors of effectiveness in Creative Problem Solving for General Education Intervention teams: Lessons learned about practice from district-trainer focus groups. In P. Brewer & M. Firmin (Eds.), Ethnographic and qualitative research in education (pp. 123-132). Newcastle, UK: Cambridge Scholars Press.
• Bahr, M. W. (2004). An unusual path: Moving from psychopathology to diversity. In W. Littlejohn (Ed.), A matter of style: Reflections from practitioners of Adaption-Innovation Theory (pp. 5-6).  Terre Haute, IN: Center for Teaching and Learning.

Recent Publications: Journal Publications

• Sherblom, S. A., & Bahr, M. W. (2008). Homosexuality and normality: Basic knowledge and practical considerations for school consultation. Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, 18, 81-100.
• Bahr, M. W., & Kovaleski, J. F. (2006). The need for problem-solving teams: Introduction to the special issue.  Remedial and Special Education, 27, 2-5.
• Bahr, M., Walker, K., Hampton, E., Buddle, B., Freeman, T., Ruschman, N., Sears, J., McKinney, A., Miller, M., and Littlejohn, W.  (2006). Creative Problem Solving for general education intervention teams: A two-year evaluation study.  Remedial and Special Education, 27, 27-41.
• Arra, C. T., & Bahr, M. W.  (2005). Teachers' and students' preferences for mathematics interventions: Implications for teacher acceptability in consultation.  Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, 16, 157-174

Select Presentations:

• Bahr, M. W., Klein, N., Kavadlo, J., & Wich-Schwarz, J. (2008, November). Requiring reading: Select strategies to insure that students do their work. Symposium presented at the annual Teaching and Technology Conference, University of Missouri - St. Louis, MO.
• Bahr, M. W., Johnson, J. L., Hume, J. M., & Clair, E. B. (2008, October). Creative Problem Solving with school-based teams: An evidence-based approach to enhance team effectiveness and student outcomes. Invited workshop presented at the annual meeting of the Missouri Association of School Psychologists, St. Louis, MO.
• Bahr, M. W., Gouwens, D., Dunn-McCarthy, M., & Felts, J. (2007, November). Using PDAs and classroom observational software to improve the training of school psychologists. Paper presented at the annual Teaching and Technology Conference, University of Missouri - St. Louis, MO.
• Bahr, M. W. (Chair). (2007, March). Recent advances in team-based practices for problem solving. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, New York, NY.
• Bahr, M. W. (2006, October). What are effective and feasible classroom interventions for behavior problems? Presentation made to staff from Psychological Services and Special Education, St. Louis Public Schools, MO.
• Bahr, M. W., Bussen, J. Piccinini, G., & Zolman, B. (2006, August). Learning from the wisdom of experienced colleagues. Presentation made to faculty at the New Faculty Orientation, University of Missouri - St. Louis.

• Achievement
• Assessment
• At-Risk Students
• Cross-Cultural Studies
• Educational Reform
• Individual Differences
• Problem Solving