Dr. Dessy Stoycheva holds a Bachelor of Applied Education (BAE) in Applied Linguistics, specializing in English and Bulgarian Studies, from St. Cyril & St. Methodius University of Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria. She earned her Master of Arts in Education (MAE) in Educational Psychology and her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Northern Iowa.

With over 15 years of teaching experience across various educational levels, including 11 years in higher education, Dr. Stoycheva is a distinguished expert in Educational Psychology. Her extensive background encompasses course development, conducting and reviewing research in adherence to journal and organizational standards, presenting her work at academic conferences, coordinating work groups, and supervising pre-service teachers as a faculty advisor. She has also played a pivotal role in service-learning projects within the community.

Dr. Stoycheva’s experience spans both traditional and non-traditional student populations in the United States and Europe, providing her with the ability to meet the individual needs of diverse learners. She has taught a wide range of courses, including K-12 TESOL and Psychology, Community College General and Developmental Psychology, University-level Educational Psychology, Learning and Motivation, and Curriculum and Instruction courses.

Her research interests are broad and interdisciplinary, focusing on higher-order cognition and learning, child development, literacy, STEAM education, and the psychology of interpersonal forgiveness. Dr. Stoycheva is particularly dedicated to applying an interdisciplinary lens to the study of learning and development, with the aim of informing instructional strategies, interventions, and practices that promote the holistic development of children. She is actively engaged in higher education research and instruction and has contributed significantly to peer-reviewed journals and professional organizations such as the American Educational Research Association and the American Psychological Association.