Dr. Poynton is currently involved in several projects and scholarly activities. He is currently working on a book with Dr. Rich Lapan to bring his prior research to life for students and parents. He is also working on a literature review led by doctoral student Sophie Schuyler and UMass Amherst faculty member Jonique Childs titled “Promoting Success for First-Generation College Students of Color: The Importance of Academic, Transitional, and Mental Health Supports”. With doctoral students Tyler Delaney and Sophie, he is currently collecting data to understand student perceptions of malleable factors in undergraduate admissions decisions (e.g., demonstrated interest) and the extent to which imposter phenomena may be experienced by students in the college application and choice process.

A key feature of Dr. Poynton’s research is finding ways to make it meaningful and tangible for students, parents, and the school counselors who serve them. With Dr. Lapan, he has created the website CollegeSanity.com to make instruments developed through their research widely and freely available. The tools available there are the CAKE (College Admissions Knowledge Evaluation) and the CCRCS (College and Career Readiness Counseling Support Scales), and provide people with the opportunity to complete the assessments and receive feedback to improve their college knowledge and the support they receive from counselors during the college choice process.