Dr. Parul Acharya holds a Ph.D. in Educational Statistics with emphasis on research methods, psychometrics, data analysis, and program evaluation from the University of Central Florida. She has a multi-disciplinary academic background with degrees in Health Science, Kinesiology, Business Administration, Logistics/Supply Chain Management, Educational Statistics, and Instructional Technology. She is currently working as an Associate Professor at Columbus State University, Columbus, Georgia in the College of Education and Health Professions. She teaches graduate-level courses in research methods, statistics, data analytics, psychometrics, and program evaluation. She has served as a Chairperson and/or Statistician in 32 completed doctoral dissertations.

She has published 30 peer-reviewed publications. Parul has worked as a Principal Evaluator on research projects for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the US Department of Education (USDOE). She regularly works on NSF and USDOE review panels as a subject matter expert of assessment and program evaluation. Parul currently holds leadership positions within the special interest groups and Divisions of American Educational Research Association (AERA). Parul has published a book on research methods, and data analysis. The book is currently used in graduate level (Masters and doctorate) courses in research methodology, statistics, and data analysis (SPSS). Her research interests include: Technological issues with online teaching and student learning; STEM/STEAM-based intervention studies; Perceived Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS); Individual and Contextual factors that influence productive (e.g.

, organizational citizenship behaviors) and counter-productive behaviors (e.g., aggression) at work, Pre-K assessment issues; Program Evaluation; Psychometrics (Scale Development and Validation); State-based assessment scores (e.g., Milestone scores, CCRPI scores, growth percentile scores). In the past, Parul has worked in the Accountability, Assessment and Research Department in large school districts within the state of Florida as a Data and Program Evaluation Analyst.