Faculty Biographies for School Psychology Nov 2013
ED SNYDER
Ed Snyder is Professor of School Psychology in the Department of Counseling, School
Psychology and Special Education. Dr. Snyder earned his certification in School Psychology in
1991 and began working for Intermediate Unit 29 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. He worked for the
Centennial School of Lehigh University from 1993-1997. He completed a predoctoral internship
with the Devereux Foundation at the Kanner Center residential treatment program in West Chest,
PA. He then worked for the Allentown City School District from1998-2000. In 2000, Dr. Snyder
earned his Ph.D. in School Psychology from Lehigh University and began teaching at Edinboro
University. He has published peer-reviewed articles in professional journals and book chapters.
He co-edited, “A Practical Guide to Building Professional Competencies in School Psychology.”
Dr. Snyder is Program Head for the School Psychology and Educational Psychology Programs.
His research interests include: Special Education consultation, student participation in Special
Education meetings, crisis management, and using empirically based approaches in schools. He
is a licensed professional psychologist and a certified school psychologist. Dr. Snyder is a
consultant with the Bureau of Disability Determination and the Office of Vocational
Rehabilitation.
JOE ERION
Joel Erion is a professor of school psychology in the Department of Counseling, School
Psychology, and Special Education. He earned his doctorate in school psychology from Indiana
University of Pennsylvania. Prior to coming to Edinboro University in the 1996 he worked as a
school psychologist in the public schools for 16 years. In 1993 he was chosen as School
Psychologist of the Year by the Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania. In 1994
he served as president of this same organization. He is a nationally certified school psychologist
and a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania. Research interests include parent tutoring, response
to instruction and intervention, and single-case design research. He has presented and published
on numerous occasions, frequently with student co-authors. He serves as faculty advisor to the
graduate honor society, Alpha Epsilon Lambda and as co-advisor to the School Psychology
Club. He serves as a program reviewer for the National Association of School Psychologists.
Working with Edinboro University management and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher
Education (PASSHE), he helped to have PASSHE recognize the Educational Specialist degree.
In 2011 Edinboro University’s School Psychology program became the first in the state system
to award the Educational Specialist degree. Currently, he is chair of the Department of
Counseling, School Psychology, and Special Education.
Mike Paff
Michael Paff is a native of upstate New York and now lives in Erie, PA, with his wife and two sons. He
attended Grove City College and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He has worked as a school
psychologist with the PENNCREST School District in Saegertown, PA since 2007, and as a temporary
instructor at Edinboro since 2010. He is also in the process of completing his doctorate in school
psychology at IUP.
Mike Thayer
Dr. Thayer is a native of Erie, PA. As a Licensed Psychologist and a Certified School
Psychologist, he has an extensive background of providing psychological services to schools,
families and agencies in Erie and surrounding communities. His special areas of interest include
teaching and providing clinical training and supervision at the university level and helping to
provide early intervention diagnostic services for ages birth to 5. Dr. Thayer holds an
undergraduate degree in Mental Health Counseling, a M.Ed. in Educational
Psychology and received his certification in School Psychology from Edinboro University. He
pursued his EdD in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University – Sarasota Campus. He has
previously served on treatment / diagnostic teams at the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children
in Perth, Western Australia.