Emeritus Faculty

Gary M. Clark is professor emeritus in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas. His professional career interests in adolescents with disabilities are threaded throughout his career beginning with his work as a teacher, school guidance counselor, and vocational... more

Don Deshler is the Emeritus Williamson Family Distinguished Professor of Special Education and served as the director of the Center for Research on Learning (CRL) at KU. Professor Emeritus Deshler continues to serve as an advisor on adolescent achievement to several national and international... more

Dr. Marti Elford is the Program Designer for the online High Incidence Disabilities Teacher Education Practicum program at the University of Kansas. Dr. Elford has experience as a classroom teacher, a reading specialist, and an instructional coach. Dr. Elford earned her Ph.D. in Special... more

Dr. Sandra W. Gautt was a faculty member in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas. She earned her doctoral degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in special education and child development. Across a 30 year career in higher education, she demonstrated her... more

Earle Knowlton is an Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Special Education specializing in human-computer interaction as it pertains to teacher quality and development.

Edward Meyen is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Special Education and an affiliated researcher with the Center for Research on Learning (CRL) in the Life Span Institute at the University of Kansas. He joined the faculty in 1973 as chair of special education and retired in 2015. Beginning... more

Dr. Nancy Peterson provided leadership for the Department in numerous ways. She served as Chair of the Department of Special Education, established an early childhood learning center at the KU Medical Center, lead the KU Professional Development Schools initiative, and taught in the early... more

Richard L. Simpson was a Professor of Special Education at the University of Kansas where he directed numerous University of Kansas and University of Kansas Medical Center demonstration programs for students with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities and coordinated a variety of... more

Barbara Thompson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education and Affiliate Faculty at the Center for Latin American Studies. She focuses particularly on the education of infants and young children with a particular interest in designing learning supports for children with... more

Ann Turnbull is the Marianna and Ross Beach Distinguished Professor Emerita in Special Education.  She co-founded and co-directed the Beach Center on Disability. Ann’s research focuses on family support, family-professional partnerships, and community inclusion for individuals with disabilities... more

Rud Turnbull is the Marianna and Ross Beach Distinguished Professor Emeritus in Special Education.  He co-founded and co-directed the Beach Center on Disability. Rud’s research interests focus on policy analysis of a range of disability-related issues that tie to our nation’s top policy agenda... more