B.S., University of Nebraska-Omaha, Psychology, 1994
M.A., University of Nebraska-Omaha, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, 1998
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, 2002
Areas of Interest
Job analysis
Personnel selection
Training evaluation
Performance management
Employee retention
Decision making and problem solving
Employee motivation and morale
CCFL Projects
Curriculum development for child welfare training
Development of competency-based testing for child welfare trainees
Training program evaluation for child welfare training
Test development and validation for personnel selection and competency assessment of Nebraska's Protection and Safety workers
Selected Projects/Publications
Paul, M. E., Graef, M. I., Robinson, E. J., & Saathoff, K. I. (in press). Managing performance. In C. Potter & C. Brittain (Eds.), Supervision in child welfare. New York: Oxford University Press.
Graef, M. I., Paul, M. E., & Myers, T. L. (in press). Recruiting and selecting child welfare staff. In F. Alwon, K. Greenhill, A. Reitz, & B. Schmitt (Eds.), Child welfare in a time of scarcity: Recruiting, selecting, and compensating a competent child welfare workforce. Washington, D.C.: Child Welfare League of America.
Graef, M. I., & Potter, M. E. (2007). Evaluating trainees' testifying behaviors. Training and Development in Human Services, 4(1), 161–167.
Paul, M. E. (2007). Evaluating trainees' documentation skills. Training and Development in Human Services, 4(1), 229–243.
Potter, M. E. (2005, May). What supervisors want to know: Evaluating the attitude and behavior of protection and safety trainees . Poster session presented at the 8 th Annual National Human Services Training Evaluation Symposium, Berkeley , CA.
Graef, M. I., Potter, M. E., Wilson, L., & Caplan, P. (2004, November). Planning an organization's future: Creating systems to build leadership capacity. Presentation at the meeting of the National Staff Training and Development Association, Chicago, IL.
Graef, M. I., & Potter, M. E. (2004, June). Factors related to turnover and retention of child welfare staff: Research-based implications for practice. Presentation at the Biennial Child Welfare Conference: Focus on Evidence-Based Practice, Washington, D.C.
Potter, M. E., & Graef, M. I. (2003, September). Building a solid foundation for successful hiring, training, and performance management . Presentation at the meeting of the National Staff Training and Development Association, Anaheim, CA.
Graef, M. I., & Potter, M. E. (2003, May). Relationship between CPS trainee characteristics and job performance and retention . Presentation at the 6 th Annual National Human Services Training Evaluation Symposium, Berkeley , CA.
Potter, M. E., & Cacioppo, B. F. (2002, November). Evaluating technical skills training: Knowledge and skills-based testing of SACWIS training in Nebraska . Workshop presented at the meeting of the National Staff Training and Development Association, Nashville, TN.
Graef, M. I., Rohde, T. L., & Potter, M. E. (2002). An intake in-basket test for child protective services trainees. Training and Development in Human Services, 2, 56-60.
