His research examines children and youth with emotional/behavioral disorders, assessment of aggressive behavior, and risk factors in the development of problem behavior, and academic interventions for students with emotional/behavioral disorders. His academic career has spanned 30 years at Vanderbilt. He taught for two years at the Mid-South Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., and received his bachelor’s degree in special education from Memphis State University. He received his master’s and doctorate from Vanderbilt.