College of Education and Human Development

Department of Educational Psychology

Special education faculty

Jechun An Jechun An

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

Jechun An

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

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.

M. Y. Savana Bak

Sam Choo Sam Choo

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

Sam Choo

Anne Foegen Anne Foegen

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

Anne Foegen

Debbie Golos Debbie Golos

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

Debbie Golos

Robert Henery Robert Henery

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.

Robert Henery

Amy Hewitt Amy Hewitt

Amy Hewitt, PhD has an extensive background and work history in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities and has worked in various positions over the past 30+ years to improve community inclusion and quality of life for children and…

Amy Hewitt headshot

LeAnne Johnson LeAnne Johnson

  • Associate Department Chair, associate professor, special education co-program coordinator
  • 612-626-3457
  • leannej@umn.edu

My role at the University of Minnesota at this time includes serving as the program coordinator special education program and leading an active program of research and training supported by over 2.

LeAnne Johnson

Rebecca Kolb Rebecca Kolb

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.

Rebecca Kolb

Brynn Kraning Brynn Kraning

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, special education licensure coordinator, 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.

Amy Kunkel

Jennifer McComas Jennifer McComas

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

Collaborative Action for Radical Equity (CARE) in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Lab Applied Behavior Analysis Lab Principal Investigator, Developing an Intervention Model for Complex Communication Needs in Rett Syndrome.

Jennifer McComas Headshot

Kristen McMaster Kristen McMaster

  • Guy Bond Chair in Reading, special education co-program coordinator
  • 612-624-1859
  • mcmas004@umn.edu

The Early Writing Project Intelligent Tutoring Systems (Projects TeLCI and ELCII) Graduate Student Advising Statement

Kristen McMaster

Reagan Mergen Reagan Mergen

Reagan L. Mergen, Ph.D. , is a Research Associate in the Educational Psychology Department at University of Minnesota.

Reagan Mergen

Charissa O'Neill Charissa O'Neill

  • Special education field placement coordinator, 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.

Charissa O'Neill

Laura Paczkowski Laura Paczkowski

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.

Laura Paczkowski

Brenna Rudolph Brenna Rudolph

  • Senior lecturer, early childhood special education (ECSE) licensure program lead
  • 612-624-3125
  • nolan225@umn.edu

I am the coordinator of the early childhood special education (ECSE) licensure program .

Brenna Rudolph

Kathy Seifert Kathy Seifert

  • Director of undergraduate studies, teaching associate professor
  • 612-625-6559
  • seif0074@umn.edu

I am the coordinator of the learning disabilities licensure program in special education.

Kathy Seifert

Frank Symons Frank Symons

  • Emma Birkmaier Education Leadership Professor, Senior Associate Dean for Research and Policy, 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.

Frank Symons

Jason Wolff Jason Wolff

  • William Harris Professor in Child Development, associate 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…

Jason Wolff