Judith Rhodes, PhD
SREC Director
Associate Dean of CHSE Research Centers & Institutes
Contact
jrhode9@lsu.edu
225-578-4948
Education
Bachelor's Degree: Social Work, LSU, 1985
Master's Degree: Social Work, LSU, 2007
PhD: Social Work, LSU, 2011
Judith Rhodes, PhD, leads complex, multi-year research projects and evaluations that foster sustained partnerships between researchers and practitioners. Her work connects research, evaluation, and practice across school-justice pathways, dropout prevention, and school-based behavioral health programs while advancing cross-sector collaboration to improve outcomes for students, schools, and communities.
Program Evaluation
Mixed Methods Research
Project Implementation
Trauma-Informed Practice
Community Engagement
GEAR UP Louisiana Forward (GULF)
U.S. Department of Education | Principal Investigator | 2026–2033 | $70 million
Dr. Rhodes serves as principal investigator for GEAR UP Louisiana Forward, a multi-year
initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
EBR/LSU/Discovery Education R+D Partnership for Math Equity
Gates Foundation | 2022–2026 | $500,000
Dr. Rhodes contributes to a research-practice partnership focused on math equity and
improving outcomes for students.
Project AWARE
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) | Principal Investigator
| 2018–2026 | $4 million
Dr. Rhodes serves as principal investigator for Project AWARE, supporting school-based
behavioral health and student well-being.
Ainsworth, L., Rhodes, J. L. F., Murray, G., & Blackmon. (In press, 2026). The Periscope Program: Integrating culturally responsive practices to transform schools through professional learning. School Social Work Journal.
Sinclair, C. H., Robison, S., Kim Y. K., Terrio, S. T., & Rhodes, J. L. F. (2026). Informing change: A final research report on the findings from the longitudinal R&D partnership for math equity project. Retrieved from https://repository.lsu.edu/srec_reports /31.
Do, B. & Rhodes, J. L. F. (2024). Geaux Math! EBRPSS & LSU: Differentiating lessons with AI. Social Research and Evaluation Center at the Louisiana State University College of Human Sciences and Education. https://repository.lsu.edu/srec_reports/12
DeBoer, J., Allouche, S., Vasquez, J., & Rhodes, J. L. F. (2022). Equitable practices in school mental health. Psychology in the Schools, 59(6), 1222-1238. DOI: 10.1002/pits.22678
Rhodes, J. L. F., Thomas, J. M., & Liles, A. R. (2018). Predictors of grade retention among children in an elementary school truancy intervention. Journal of At-Risk Issues, 21(1),1-10.
Rhodes, J. L. F. “Give attendance an A: Louisiana’s journey” Plenary presentation at the 2026 Attendance USA: Research to Practice summit, Baton Rouge, LA, on June 5, 2026.
Rhodes, J. L.F. “Small changes, big results: Using plan-do-study-act to improve attendance”. Presentation at the Louisiana Families in Need of Services (FINS) Association Conference on May 27, 2026.
Rhodes, J. L. F., Sinclair, H. C., Navo, S., O’Konski, A., & Katz, L (2025). “EBR/LSU/ Discovery Education Research-Practitioner Partnership: Great partnerships are like a gumbo, not fast food”. Plenary presentation at the AIMS Collaboratory Convening for the Gates Foundation in Nashville, TN on December 2, 2025.
Rhodes, J.L. F., Ainsworth, L., & Murray, G. “Integrating culturally responsive practices to transform schools through social-emotional learning” Presentation at the National Center for School Mental Health Annual Conference, The 2023 Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health: Building Hopeful Futures for All Youth in New Orleans, La., on December 5, 2023.
Leadership Louisiana Health Fellow: Inaugural class of 2027
LSU CHSE Engagement Award, 2016
Judith is married with two wonderful adult offspring and four adorable grandboys. Judith considers herself a monarch butterfly midwife and enjoys gardening, her book club, Cajun dance, and traveling.