Michael Nakkula, professor of practice and chair of applied psychology in Penn GSE’s human development and quantitative methods division, received a $145,000 grant from The Future Project to lead a study of an innovative national project on developmental life coaching to promote “possibility thinking” in urban high schools. The initiative helps fill the gap in counseling and related life-planning supports in urban schools across the country. The study focuses on initiatives in Detroit, Washington, DC, Newark and New Haven.

Dr. Nakkula’s teaching and research focus on the development of resilience and the promotion of possibility development among children and youth from low-income backgrounds. He is particularly interested in the integration of counseling, mentoring and educational processes in urban schools to create contexts that allow students to thrive in school and during their transition to higher education and career opportunities. Dr. Nakkula works with many national and international organizations to develop applied research strategies that promote the study of developmental and educational initiatives in support of enhanced mental health and optimal youth development.