Doctorate (PhD) in special education

Jechun An Jechun An

• Post-doctoral associate
• an000070@umn.edu

I serve as a Post-Doctoral Associate (Mentors: Drs. Sam Choo and Kristen McMaster ) at the Department of Educational Psychology.

M. Y. Savana Bak M. Y. Savana Bak

• Associate professor
• she, her, hers
• 612-624-6083
• mbak@umn.edu

My current research focuses on 1) social communication interventions for autistic children using multi-mode language data from the children’s natural environment and 2) supporting communities to advocate for culturally responsive interventions.

Breanne Byiers Breanne Byiers

• Research associate professor
• byier001@umn.edu

Sam Choo Sam Choo

• Assistant professor
• schoo@umn.edu

My research focuses on leveraging technology to support teachers in more effectively teaching mathematics for their students with or at risk for learning disabilities.

Anne Foegen Anne Foegen

• Professor, special education program coordinator
• afoegen@umn.edu

My research explores the development and implementation of brief assessments in mathematics that can be used to monitor student progress.

Debbie Golos Debbie Golos

• Professor; coordinator, Deaf/Hard of Hearing licensure & MEd
• dgolos@umn.edu

Personal Statement: I recognize the privilege I hold but did not earn through my race, socioeconomic status, hearing level, and education.

Robert Henery Robert Henery

• Senior lecturer
• hener005@umn.edu

I coordinate the program for the Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD) license in special education. I teach a variety of courses, generally focused around applied behavior analysis or behavior interventions in schools.

Amy Hewitt Amy Hewitt

• Professor
• hewit005@umn.edu

Amy Hewitt has a background and work history in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities and has worked in many positions to improve community inclusion and quality of life for children and adults with disabilities and their families.

LeAnne Johnson LeAnne Johnson

• Department chair; professor; co-program coordinator, special education
• 612-626-3457
• leannej@umn.edu

My research interests are intervention-oriented with a focus on improving outcomes for a range of preschool and elementary school-aged children who are at high risk given social, emotional, behavioral, and communication needs.

Rebecca Kolb Rebecca Kolb

• Lecturer
• she, her, hers
• 612-626-9411
• rkolb@umn.edu

In my current position I’m a lecturer in the special education department that teaches primarily within the MA in ABA course sequence. In addition to teaching, I serve as the fieldwork coordinator and program coordinator for the MA in ABA program.

Brynn Kraning Brynn Kraning

• Lecturer
• she, her, hers
• kraning@umn.edu

I strive to train compassionate and mindful students who are to become highly qualified teachers of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children who represent culturally, linguistically, and racially diverse backgrounds.

Amy Kunkel Amy Kunkel

• Assistant teaching professor; coordinator, special education licensure; ABS licensure program lead
• hear0045@umn.edu

I serve as the licensure coordinator for the Special Education Program in the Department of Educational Psychology. I am also the Licensure Program Lead for the Academic Behavior Strategist (ABS) license in Special Education.

Jennifer McComas Jennifer McComas

• Rodney S. Wallace Professor for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning
• 612-624-5854
• jmccomas@umn.edu

Principal Investigator, Developing an Intervention Model for Complex Communication Needs in Rett Syndrome.

Kristen McMaster Kristen McMaster

• Assistant Dean for Research, CEHD; Guy Bond Chair in Reading
• 612-624-1859
• mcmas004@umn.edu

My empirical work aims to bridge research and practice leveraging our (researchers’ and practitioners’) collective expertise to address those issues.

Charissa O'Neill Charissa O'Neill

• Field placement coordinator, special education; teaching specialist
• 612-626-7638
• coneill@umn.edu

Charissa O’Neill is the Field Placement Coordinator for the Special Education Program. In this role, she coordinates both student teaching and practicum experiences for students.

Laura Paczkowski Laura Paczkowski

• Academic advisor
• 612-624-6827
• laurap@umn.edu

Hello all! My name is Laura, and I am the academic advisor for the special education program. I received my master's of science in college counseling and student affairs from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Frank Symons Frank Symons

• Interim Dean, CEHD; Distinguished McKnight University Professor
• 612-626-8697
• symon007@umn.edu

My research emphasis is on understanding the severe behavior problems of children and adults with special needs, primarily those with developmental disabilities and emotional or behavioral disorders.

Jason Wolff Jason Wolff

• William Harris Professor in Child Development, professor, director of graduate studies
• 612-625-4166
• jjwolff@umn.edu

How do we optimally support young children with autism and related developmental disabilities? My approach to this overarching question is based on the rationale that understanding the origins of such behaviors, how they emerge from the interplay of…