Partnership for People with Disabilities

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Seb Prohn

Seb Prohn, Ph.D.*

Assistant Director- Research & Evaluation

804-828-8593

Position:

Assistant Director- Research & Evaluation

Bio: 

Seb is originally from western North Carolina and presently resides in North Chesterfield with his wife, Joanna, and their two children, Benjamin and Iris. His passions include hiking, running, cycling, and canoeing. Indoors, he can often be found watching soccer or engrossed in a good book.

Professional Experience:

  • Assistant Director: Research & Evaluation, Partnership for People With Disabilities (Virginia’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities), Virginia Commonwealth University, (2022-current)
  • Senior Research & Evaluation Analyst, Partnership for People With Disabilities (Virginia’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities), Virginia Commonwealth University, (2018-2022)
  • Research Faculty, Rehabilitation Research and Technology Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, (2015-2018)
  • Project Coordinator, VCU ACE-IT in College, Center on Transition Innovations, Virginia Commonwealth University, (2016-2017)
  • Faculty Liaison & Outreach Coordinator, University Participant Program, Western Carolina University, (2011-2015)
  • Research Assistant/ Design & Analysis Specialist, Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) Community food system project, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University & North Carolina State University, (2008-2011)

Partnership Projects:

  • Project PEACE (PI)
  • SALTTR (PI)
  • Inclusion Project (PI)
  • UCEDD Core grant
  • Longitudinally Measuring Outcomes
  • Promoting Self-Determination in Psychotherapy
  • National Core Indicators
  • VCU RIC
  • Research to address IDD Health Disparities 

Expertise:

  • Inclusive, participatory research and planning
  • Program evaluation
  • Social inclusion and community participation

Education:

  • PhD in Psychology, North Carolina State University
  • MS in Psychology, North Carolina State University
  • BA in Sociology, North Carolina State University

Research Interests:

  • Amplifying voices of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
  • Inclusive, participatory health research
  • Belonging, social inclusion, and community participation
  • Transition, including employment and inclusive post-secondary education

Accomplishments:

  • Utilizing participatory methods, including visual arts such as photography, painting, and drawing, to empower self-advocates in educating various stakeholders (healthcare professionals, teachers, peers, and community members) about their health experiences, employment aspirations, and college campus inclusion/exclusion.
  • Serving as the principal investigator or co-principal investigator for multi-year projects funded by prestigious organizations, including the Administration for Community Living, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the WITH Foundation, the Virginia Department of Education, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
  • Contributing to a diverse range of projects at the Partnership, fostering a profound sense of accomplishment by continually striving to enhance communities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families.

Publications:

  • Broda, M. D., Bogenschutz, M., Dinora, P., Prohn, S., Lineberry, S., & West., A. (In Press). Understanding COVID-19 infection among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities using machine learning. Disability and Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2024.101607
  • Childress, D. C., Prohn, S. M., Hill, C. F., & Terry, L. M. (2024). Aligning Professional Development with Service Coordinator Knowledge and Skills: A Program Evaluation. Infants and Young Children, 37(1), 48-63. DOI: 10.1097/IYC.0000000000000257
  • Lineberry, S., Bogenschutz, M., Broda, M., Dinora, P., Prohn, S., & West, A. (2023). Co-Occurring Mental Illness and Behavioral Support Needs in Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Community mental health journal, 59(6), 1119–1128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-023-01091-4
  • Prohn, S. M., Dinora, P., & Diggs Brody, K. (2023). Contributions of Community Organizations to Personal Outcomes for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Study of Special Olympics Program Participation.  Developmental Disabilities Network Journal, 3(2) Article 2.
  • Broda, M., Bogenschutz, M. D., Lineberry, S., Dinora, P., Prohn, S.M., & West, A. (2023). Comparing employment, employment services, and employment goals in propensity-matched samples of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with and without autism. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 58(3), 307-316.
  • Dinora, P., Prohn, S.M., Broda, M., Bogenschutz, M. D., Lineberry, S., & West, A. (2023). An examination of support needs, supports, and outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 61 (1), 65-78.
  • Bogenschutz, M., Dinora, P., Lineberry, S., Prohn, S., Broda, M., & West, A. (2022). Promising practices in the frontiers of quality outcomes measurement for intellectual and developmental disability services. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences: Disability, Rehabilitation, and Inclusion, e871178. http://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2022.871178.
  • Prohn, S.M., Dinora, P., Broda, M., Bogenschutz, M & Lineberry, S. (2022). Measuring Four Personal Opportunities for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Inclusion, 10 (1), 19-34.
  • Broda, M., Bogenschutz, M., Dinora, P., Prohn, S.M., Lineberry, S. & Ross, E. (2021). Using machine learning to predict patterns of employment and day program participation. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. 126 (6), 477-491. 
  • Bogenschutz, M., Broda, M., Lineberry, S. Dinora, P., & Prohn, S.M., (2021). Testing a Wellness Indicators Measure for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Developmental Disabilities Network Journal, 2(1), 118-135.
  • Dinora, P., Prohn, S.M., Cramer, E., Dellinger-Wray, M., Mayton, C. & D’Aguiliar, A. (2021). Testing the Efficacy of Leadership for Empowerment and Abuse Prevention (LEAP), a Healthy Relationship Training Intervention for People with Intellectual Disability. Developmental Disabilities Network Journal, 2(1), 136-152.
  • Cheng, S., Prohn, S. M., Dinora, P., Broda, M., & Bogenschutz, M. D. (2020). Measuring and tracking personal opportunity outcome measures over three years to guide policy and services that promote inclusive community living. Inclusion, 8, 335-350.
  • Prohn, S. M., Hall, T. B., Kunkes, I., McTague, B & Russell, C. (2020). Leveraging campus collaboration to promote sustainable, inclusive writing supports for all students. Journal of Inclusive Postsecondary Education, 2(2).
  • Prohn, S. M., Kelley, K. R., & Westling, D. L. (2019). Supports’ perspectives on the social experiences of college students with intellectual disability. Inclusion. 7(2), 111-124.
  • Kelley, K. R. & Prohn, S. M. (2018). Postsecondary and employment expectations of families and students with intellectual disability. Journal of Inclusive Postsecondary Education. 1, 1-14.
  • Prohn, S. M., Kelley, K. R., & Westling, D. L. (2018). Students with Intellectual Disability Going to College: What are the outcomes? A Pilot Study. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 48, 127-132.
  • Westling, D. L., Kelley, K. R., & Prohn, S. M. (2016). A Tiered Approach to Promote Safety and Security in an Inclusive Postsecondary Education Program for College Students with Intellectual Disability. DADD Online Journal. 3(1), 160-171.
  • Prohn, S.M., Kelley, K.R., & Westling, D.L. (2016). Studying abroad inclusively: Reflections by college students with and without intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 20(4), 341-353.
  • Kelley, K.R., Prohn, S.M., Westling, D.L. (2016). Inclusive study abroad course for college students with and without intellectual disabilities. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability. 29(1), 91-101.
  • Smith, S., Prohn, S., Driscoll, L., Hesterberg, D., Bradley, L. & Grossman, J. (2014). Preparing Students for a Diverse Future: Using Service-Learning for Career Training in Agricultural Community Outreach. North American Colleges & Teachers of Agriculture. 58, 293-301.
  • Westling, D.L., Kelley, K.R., Cain, B. & Prohn, S. M. (2013). College Students’ Attitudes about an Inclusive Postsecondary Education Program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. Education & Training in Autism & Developmental Disabilities, 48(3), 306-319.
  • Grossman J., Sherard, M., Prohn, S., Bradley, L., Goodell, S., Andrew, K. (2012) An Exploratory Analysis of Student-Community Interactions in Urban Agriculture, Journal of Higher Education, Extension and Outreach, 16(2), 1534-1604.

Professional Affiliations:

  • AAIDD (American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities)
  • CEC DCDT (Council for Exceptional Children Division on Career Development and Transition)
  • AEA (American Evaluation Association)

LinkedIn Profile: