The UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) transforms the lives of children and families through interdisciplinary research, evaluation, implementation, technical assistance, and outreach—locally, nationally, and across the globe. We partner with collaborators around the world and seek opportunities to have those colleagues join us in collaboration here in Chapel Hill. 
 
In partnership with UNC's Fulbright Scholarship Program, which hosts dozens of visiting Fulbrighters each year, we’re pleased to welcome Szu-Yin Chu to FPG, a Fulbright senior researcher, who will be working with FPG Director, Brian Boyd, PhD. We recently spoke with Chu to learn more about work and her journey to Chapel Hill with the Fulbright Program—here’s what she had to say.

Tell us about yourself and your academic journey.

I’m originally from Taiwan and currently serve as a Professor and Chair of the Department of Special Education at National Tsing Hua University. My academic path began at the University of Taipei, where I majored in Early Childhood Education, and earned a certification as a preschool special education teacher.

In 2004, I pursued a master’s degree in special education at the University of Texas at Austin, with a focus in early childhood special education. it was there I met my advisor, Dr. Melissa Olive, who introduced me to applied behavior analysis (ABA). Her mentorship sparked a deep interest in ABA, and I began formal coursework in the field, eventually earning my BCBA certification in 2013.

I continued my doctoral studies at UT-Austin in multicultural special education under the guidance of Dr. Shernaz Garcia. My dissertation, titled “The Influence of Perceived Collective Teacher Efficacy and Contextual Variables on Individual Teacher Efficacy of Special Education Teachers Serving Students from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds,” received the 2010 Best Dissertation Award from the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children.

In 2011, I returned to Taiwan to begin my academic career at National Taitung University. Later, I was honored to join the faculty at National Tsing Hua University in my hometown of Hsinchu.

Over the past 14 years, I’ve published more than 80 journal articles in both English and Chinese, and served as principal or co-principal investigator on more than 10 research projects funded by Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). As a teacher educator, I’ve trained mor than 50 early childhood practitioners and continue to mentor professionals in the field. In 2021, I received the Palm Award in Early Intervention, and in 2023, I was recognized as an Outstanding Internship Mentor by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education.

Beyond my professional identity, I’m also a family member of a person with an intellectual disability—my two cousins—and this has been a lifelong source of inspiration for my advocacy. I’m also a mother of two daughters, aged 4 and 8. From an early age, I’ve introduced them to inclusive learning environments and taken them around the world to expand their global perspective.

Tell us about your Fulbright Scholarship.

I first learned about the Fulbright program when I hosted Dr. Tameah Chandler, a Fullbright Fellow, in 2023-2024. She came to Taiwan to collect data for her dissertation on power dynamics in special education family-professional partnerships. Mentoring her was a transformative experience—it opened my eyes to the program’s potential for fostering global academic exchange and meaningful community impact.

Inspired, I applied for the 2024–2025 Fulbright Senior Research Award. I reached out to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill—a university I had long admired— and was fortunate to connect with Dr. Harriet Able, and later, Dr. Brian Boyd. After a Zoom meeting where I shared my goals, I was thrilled to learn I had been selected for the award. With the support of my university, I am taking summer leave from May to August 2025 to conduct my Fulbright exchange at FPG

What will you be working on at UNC?

Dr. Boyd’s dual roles at UNC’s School of Education and as director of FPG offer a unique opportunity for academic collaboration. I hope to engage deeply with his team and participate in FPG’s research ecosystem.

Specifically, I hope to:

• Visit local schools and organizations to observe practical intervention strategies.
• Learn more about Dr. Boyd's current projects and explore how they might be adapted for implementation in Taiwan.
• Receive feedback on my own research—including design, methodology, and strategies for academic publication and grant application. 

My research focuses on self-determination, AI-ABA (integrating artificial intelligence into applied behavior analysis strategies), parent involvement, and social-emotional/behavioral interventions in early childhood. I am particularly interested in telehealth, parent-implemented treatments, peer-mediated interventions, and measures of early social communication—areas where Dr. Boyd's work could offer invaluable insight and help guide future research in Taiwan.

Where do you see yourself five years from now? What do you hope to be working on?

I’m planning a sabbatical in Australia in 2026–2027, where I hope to further explore models of inclusive education in early childhood. My vision over the next five years is to use these international experiences—from the US and Australia—to re-examine inclusive practices in Taiwan and contribute to policy development and implementation.

With my BCBA-D certification and specialization in evidence-based practices, I also hope to work with the Taiwan Association for Behavior Analysis to localize certification standards. Through systematic training and supervision, I aim to help establish a professional ABA certification system in Taiwan.

Additionally, I plan to launch a longitudinal study examining the long-term outcomes of children who received evidence-based early intervention, tracking their progress 5 to 10 years after school entry. This project will also incorporate quality of life measures to provide a more holistic understanding of the intervention impact, with the ultimate goal of influencing early childhood education policies.

Is there anything else you would like people to know about you and your academic work?

I consider myself both a researcher and a practitioner. I am currently the only university-based scholar in Taiwan with certifications as a preschool teacher, preschool special education teacher, and a BCBA-D. Over the past five years, I have supported the Ministry of Education in implementing inclusive preschool models—working alongside general and special education teachers to build more inclusive classrooms.

Through my NSTC-funded projects, I’ve launched a YouTube channel and podcast series to support young children with developmental delays and their families. I’m also collaborating with researchers from Texas A&M University and the University of Macau on an ABA-AI initiative.

My core research interests include preschool self-determination, evidence-based practices, culturally responsive teaching, and parent-professional partnerships. I’m currently developing a project focused on multi-tiered support systems in early childhood settings.

Above all, I welcome international collaboration—particularly with colleagues at FPG —and would be honored to contribute to shared efforts that improve early childhood outcomes in Taiwan.