Ph.D. Program Faculty By Specialization
Disability & Diversity in Education & Society
Gregory A. Cheatham's scholarship focuses on the provision of effective, appropriate, and equitable services for young children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. He has a particular interest in language diversity including bilingualism for families and children... more
Thomas M. Skrtic, Ph.D., was a Willamson Family Distinguished Professor of education in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas. His academic interests were classical pragmatism, institutional theory, and democratic social reform, which informed several of his published... more
Early Childhood Unified (Blending of Early Childhood & Early Childhood Special Education)
Dr. Carta is a Senior Scientist in the Institute for Life Span Studies, and Professor of Special Education at the University of Kansas. Her science focuses on developing strategies to minimize the effects of poverty on children's outcomes and developing practices that teachers and parents can... more
Gregory A. Cheatham's scholarship focuses on the provision of effective, appropriate, and equitable services for young children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. He has a particular interest in language diversity including bilingualism for families and children... more
Eva M. Horn is a Professor in the Department of Special Education and an investigator for the Lifespan Institute for Developmental Disabilities (LSI). She earned her doctoral degree in Human Development with an emphasis in Special Education from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Horn was a classroom... more
Evidence-based Practices: Supporting Students with Intensive Interventions Needs in Tiered Systems
Kathleen Lynne Lane is a Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research. Dr. Lane’s research interests focus on designing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive, integrated, three-tiered (... more
Kathleen Zimmerman is an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas. Kathleen earned her doctoral degree in Special Education from Vanderbilt University. Kathleen is a board certified behavior analyst and held dual-teaching certifications in elementary... more
Instructional Design, Technology & Innovation
Sean J. Smith, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas. He is also the Past-President of the technology division for the Council for Exceptional Children, Innovations in Special Education Technology (ISET), and member of the Board for the National... more
Special Education Policy & Systems Studies
Suzanne Robinson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas and the Area Coordinator for High Incidence Special Education teacher education. Dr. Robinson earned her doctoral degree with a major in Special Education and a minor in Cognitive... more
Dr. Wayne Sailor's academic pursuits are focused on comprehensive school reform at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. He has done extensive research within the framework of multi-tiered systems of support and response to intervention (MTSS/RTI). Much of this research has been... more
Thomas M. Skrtic, Ph.D., was a Willamson Family Distinguished Professor of education in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas. His academic interests were classical pragmatism, institutional theory, and democratic social reform, which informed several of his published... more
Strengths-Based & Inclusive Approaches to the Education of Learners with Extensive & Pervasive Support Needs
Brief Biography:
Michael L. Wehmeyer, Ph.D. is the Ross and Marianna Beach Distinguished Professor in Special Education and Chairperson, Department of Special Education as well as Director and Senior Scientist at the Beach Center on Disability, all at the University of Kansas. Dr. Wehmeyer... more
Dr. Jennifer Kurth is Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of Kansas, and affiliated faculty at the University of Kansas Center on Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Her academic interests include methods implementing inclusive education, including methods of... more
Sheida K. Raley, Ph.D. is an Assistant Research Professor at the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities and Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education. Dr. Raley’s research focuses on assessment and intervention related to self-determination for all students,... more
Karrie A. Shogren, Ph.D. is Director of the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities (a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities), Senior Scientist at the Schiefelbusch Life Span Institute, and Professor in the Department of Special Education all at the... more
James R. Thompson, Ph.D. has over 30 years of experience in the field of developmental disabilities as a direct support professional, special educator, rehabilitation counselor, teacher educator, and researcher. He has authored or co-authored over 70 books, book chapters, monographs, and... more
Dr. Alison Zagona is Assistant Professor of Special Education at the University of Kansas. Her research is focused on inclusive education and strategies for supporting students with extensive support needs to experience success and full inclusion in general education classrooms and natural... more
