KU School of Education and Human Sciences faculty

Biography — Barbara A. Bradley, professor, joined the KU faculty in the fall of 2004. Barbara earned a BS degree from SUNY at Stony Brook in biology and psychology, an MA degree in physical education from Adelphi University, and a PhD in reading education from The University of Georgia. She has 14 years experience teaching preschool-aged children with special needs and taught in New York, Virginia, and Colorado.Websites: Carpi, Italy Study Abroad 2019 Study Abroad in Carpi, Italy 2018 Flyer: http://ct.ku.edu/sites/ct.ku.edu/files/files/Italy_KU_flyer_2018.pdf

TESOL: Hyesun Cho, professor, joined the KU faculty in the fall of 2011. Cho earned her BA degree from Korea University in Seoul, Korea, an MA degree in English as a Second Language from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Ph.D. in Second Language Acquisition from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Hyesun Cho specializes in TESOL, second language/literacy education, academic and social identities of language learners and teachers, critical literacy, participatory action research, and critical multiculturalism and technology-integrated instruction.

Laurie A. Cleavinger Specializes in middle and secondary science education.

Dudek is a learning designer and technologist by profession and a Learning Science researcher by training. Her research focuses on place-based and informal learning in communities. Dudek has been an instructional designer for online programs at Penn State's World Campus, Air University's eSchool, and the University of Alabama. She has taught a range of subjects from world mythology to qualitative research methods. She received her Ph.D. in learning, design, and technology from Penn State University. Dudek is also an associate researcher at KU’s Center for Certification and Competency-Based Education.

Lauri Herrmann-Ginsberg, lecturer, joined the Department of Curriculum and Teaching in the fall of 2005. Previously she had worked as an Instructional Designer and Lecturer at Colorado State University and as an English teacher in a public high school. She received a BA in English with Education from Presbyterian College in 1984, an ML from the College of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina in 1989, and an Ed.D. also from the University of South Carolina in 1997. Her primary areas of interest are in Children's and Young Adult Literature and Curriculum Studies. Dr. Herrmann-Ginsberg consults with the Gertrude Strong Library for Children's Literature and specializes in secondary English education.

Chair, Department of Curriculum and TeachingProfessorSecondary English Education Program Coordinator

Karen A. Jorgensen joined the KU faculty in August, 2005. She earned her B.A. in Elementary Education and Scandinavian Studies from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. Karen's master's work was completed at Høgskolen i Hamar (Norway) in the areas of Norwegian linguistics, literature and language. Her Ph.D. in the dual program areas of literacy education and second languages and cultures education was conferred by the University of Minnesota. Karen Specializes in literacy and TESOL.

Min-Young Kim is an Assistant Professor of Literacy Education in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching at the University of Kansas. Dr. Kim received her Ph.D. in Language, Education, and Society from The Ohio State University. She has a background in literacy education, teacher education, and discourse analysis, with special interests in argumentative and dialogic practices. Her research interests also include the translanguaging and transnational pedagogical practices of teachers from historically marginalized communities. Her scholarly work has appeared in publications such as Research in the Teaching of English, Learning, Culture, and Social Interaction, Reading & Writing, and English Journal. She served as a conference co-chair of the Korean-American Educational Researchers Association (KAERA) and is currently holding the secretary/treasurer position in the Language and Social Processes SIG of the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

Carrie La Voy, lecturer, joined the KU School of Education faculty full-time in the fall of 2010. Previously she worked as an adjunct faculty member at The University of Kansas, Johnson County Community College, Ottawa University, and Haskell Indian Nations University, where she taught mathematics courses and education courses. La Voy earned her Ph.D., MSE, and BSE from The University of Kansas.

Nicholas Ensley Mitchell joined the KU faculty in the fall of 2020. He earned a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Louisiana State University in 2016. He is a curriculum theorist whose scholarship focuses on the intersection of education theory, policy, and practice. His public scholarship focuses on anti-bigotry and issues of diversity.

Dean Richards IV is an assistant teacher professor in the Department of Curriculum & Teaching and lecturer with the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies. He teaches courses in elementary methods, ethical and sociological foundations of education, multicultural education, and curriculum planning. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Kansas and MSE at the University of Central Missouri. Prior to his current position at KU, he was an assistant professor of education at Baker University for three years and a guest lecturer at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. His scholarly interests include teacher preparation, critical studies, and social studies education. Prior to teaching at the university level, he taught grades 4-8 in under-resourced urban public schools for 13 years. He maintains a strong passion for preparing educators and administrators to engage in democratic, culturally relevant, critically aware, and equitable teaching and leadership practices.

Lonna Summers Rocha joined the Department of Curriculum and Teaching at KU in 2016. Rocha earned a BA in English and Spanish from Southwestern College in Kansas, an MA and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Kansas. Rocha was a bilingual paraeducator for preK-12 students and taught English to college students and adults in the U.S. and Mexico. Rocha has taught graduate and undergraduate courses for in-service and pre-service teachers and provided professional development workshops to educators, community members, and migrant family advocates.

Kwangok Song, associate professor, joined the KU faculty in the fall of 2017. Kwangok received an MA and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Austin in 2012, specializing in language and literacy studies. Kwangok's research concerns sociocultural factors and sociocognitive aspects of literacy and learning. She teaches undergraduate literacy methods courses.

Steven H. White, associate professor, joined the KU faculty in the fall of 1994. White earned a BS.Ed. from Angelo State University in elementary education, an MS.Ed. in curriculum and instruction from Texas A&M University, and the Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Texas A&M University. His primary research interests are geographic literacy, historical understanding, and instructional strategies. He is currently a reviewer for the Journal of Social Studies Research, Middle Level Education, and Teaching and Teacher Education. White has published in The Journal of Geography, Social Education, Middle School Journal, and The Journal of Moral Education. He has presented research and sessions at American Educational Research Association, National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference, and the National Council for Geographic Education Annual Conference. Steven H. White Specializes in elementary social studies education.

Cheryl J. Wright, assistant teaching professor, joined the KU Department of Curriculum and Teaching in the spring of 2016. Wright earned a BS in speech pathology from Ball State University in Muncie, IN, a MSEd from KU in special education, and the PhD in curriculum and instruction also from the University of Kansas. Wright’s areas of research focus on students’ perceptions of what contributes to effective student performance and culturally responsive inquiry learning. As a longtime practitioner in the field of education, Wright has taught grades K-12, served as an instructional coach, professional development facilitator for the Kansas State Department of Education, and as a team member and contributing author on the Educator Advisory Committee of the Global Oneness Project.

James D. Basham, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas. His work is focused on developing future-ready learning environments that are equitable, beneficial, and meaningful for all learners. His research focused on the implementation of UDL, AI, STEM education, learner-centered design, innovation, and technology in human learning. He has several federally and privately funded research and technical assistance projects, including the Center for Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning (CIDDL). He is well-published, has given hundreds of talks, and serves on various national and international boards for journals, companies, and education organizations.

Irma Brasseur-Hock, PhD serves as a Teaching Professor & Director of Online Special Education Master's Programs, University of Kansas; Assistant Research Professor, KU Center for Research on Learning (KUCRL). Dr. Brasseur-Hock earned her PhD in Special Education from the University of Kansas and has extensive experience as a special education teacher, earning a strong reputation for her expertise in adolescent literacy and secondary school change; she is the developer and validator of the Fusion Reading curriculum, a reading program for struggling adolescent readers, and has designed online professional development to support its implementation. Her professional interests encompass online instructional design, K-12 blended learning, instructional technology, adolescent literacy, professional development, instructional coaching, and instructional sustainability. Dr. Brasseur-Hock has served as Co-PI and project manager on several federally funded research projects focused on systems change, instructional delivery, and adolescent literacy, including grants from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) related to reading intervention development, efficacy studies, and teacher quality, and has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Lisa Dieker, is the Williamson Family Distinguished Professor of Special Education in the School of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Kansas (KU). She serves as the Director of a Center in the Assessment and Achievement Institute called FLITE (flexible learning through innovations in teaching and education). Dr. Dieker’s research focuses on harnessing the power of teachers working across disciplines in the general education setting, focusing on teacher education, special education, and innovative technology uses.

Lisa Didion is an Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas. Lisa’s primary research interests are data literacy and teacher professional development. Specifically, Lisa investigates progress monitoring and self-monitoring as it pertains to students and teachers for data-based decision making. Her current research is focused on a program called Data Mountain, which teaches students with disabilities how to self-monitor their performance for improved outcomes. Lisa is also involved in designing and delivering high-quality professional development for educators. Her work emphasizes the importance of PD components such as active participation, sustained support, application of content knowledge to evidence-based practices, and relevance to teachers’ need. This work underscores the need for multifaceted PD to address the diverse needs of public education and improve student outcomes. Lisa has previously taught elementary special education in inclusive settings for 6 years. She received her PhD from The University of Texas at Austin in May of 2019 and was a scholar with the National Center for Leadership in Intensive Intervention (NCLII). She received her undergraduate degree in special education at the University of Missouri-Columbia and her master’s at Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Deborah Griswold is a Teaching Professor and Co-Area Coordinator for the Autism Masters and graduate Certificate programs in the Department of Special Education. She has been associated with the autism program since its inception. She obtained her master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Kansas, benefiting from mentorship by esteemed experts Drs. Richard L. Simpson and Brenda Smith Myles. Her areas of expertise include teacher education, autism spectrum disorders, and emotional behavioral disorders.

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 (Ci3T) models of prevention to (a) prevent the development of learning, behavior, and social and emotional well-being challenges and (b) respond to existing instances, with an emphasis on systematic screening. She is the co-editor of Remedial and Special Education and principal investigator on the following grants funded by the Institute of Education Sciences: Project Enhance (Network), and Project Engage (Pandemic Impact). Dr. Lane has co-authored or edited 15 books and published 255 refereed journal articles and 58 book chapters.

Lisa Mann has worked for KU since May 2014 and has become known amongst her colleagues as a goal-oriented, reliable pillar in the department. She has a variety of responsibilities aside from her main position, including but not limited to working as the administrator for the High Incidence and ASD Practicum Gateways, monitoring all courses for APA and copyright support, and teaching students in groups as well as individually about APA formatting. Moreover, Mann serves on several committees.

Valerie L. Mazzotti, PhD is a Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor of Special Education in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas. Dr. Mazzotti is affiliated with the Kansas University Center on Disabilities. Dr. Mazzotti's research focuses on four areas, including interagency collaboration, self-determination interventions and supports, college and career readiness for students with disabilities, and secondary transition evidence-based practices and predictors of postschool success.

Dr. Glennda McKeithan is an Associate Teaching Professor and Co-Area Coordinator for the University of Kansas Autism Spectrum Disorder MSE and Graduate Certificate programs. With over 20 years of experience in general and special education settings, Dr. McKeithan brings extensive expertise in supporting students with autism through evidence-based interventions, curriculum design, and inclusive instructional strategies. She holds a BA in English, an MEd in Special Education, and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from North Carolina State University. Her professional background includes work as a K-12 teacher, administrator, educational consultant, faculty advisor, teacher mentor, coordinating teacher, and college supervisor, all grounded in a deep commitment to supporting educators and improving learning outcomes for diverse student populations. Dr. McKeithan’s research interests focus on practical, high-leverage strategies to meet the needs of students with autism in general education settings, the application of evidence-based practices, and the development of effective online instruction and gamification. Dr. McKeithan’s teaching and research reflect her core belief that learning should be meaningful, engaging, and accessible to all students. She continues to support educators and graduate students in finding creative and evidence-based ways to make that belief a reality.

Stacie L. Dojonovic is the coordinator for the online Transition program. Stacie has over 20 years' experience as an educator and transition specialist in both urban and suburban school districts. Her passion through the years has been to continue to engage diverse audiences in order to implement research to practice to improve the post school outcomes of all youth. Additionally, Stacie has served as President, Marketing Chair, Transition Assessment/Vocational Evaluation Representative and Newsletter Editor for the Council for Exceptional Children's Division on Career Development and Transition. Currently she serves as the Executive Director for the Council for Exceptional Children's Division on Career Development and Transition. On a personal note, Dr. Dojonovic is a first-generation college graduate who grew up below the federal poverty line. She also shares the perspective with family members raising a child with a disability.

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 Down syndrome Congress. Dr. Smith’s research interests focus on innovations and technology solutions to support struggling learners and those with disabilities, particularly interventions aligned with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Framework. At present, Dr. Smith is the Principal Investigator on a federally funded project exploring the impact of virtual reality on struggling learners in the area of social emotional development. Sean has authored over 100 books and articles, given hundreds of scholarly presentations both nationally and internationally, and serves on various boards for journals, organizations, and parent groups focused on enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities. Dr. Smith, with a variety of collaborators, has received and managed over $25 million of external research and development funds. Most importantly, Sean is the father of four children, one having Down syndrome. It is through this work as a father that Sean has sought to apply his knowledge of effective practices with parents, family members, and similar stakeholders as we look to enhance the lives of our children, ALL of our children!

Elizabeth Stevens is an Associate Professor at the University of Kansas. Stevens completed her Ph.D. at The University of Texas at Austin. She holds a master’s degree in special education from the College of William and Mary and a reading specialist degree from the University of Virginia. Prior to pursuing her doctorate, she taught special education for nine years in Virginia. Her research focuses on improving academic outcomes for students with learning disabilities and learning difficulties.

Educational leadership & policy studies scholar explores impact of school finance policy

Jennifer Bessolo, Ed.D., coordinates and leads the MSE Educational Administration and the Ed.D District Leadership program at the University of Kansas and serves as professor of practice in both levels of study. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Kansas and has a background in K-12 district and building leadership.

ELPS 756 Data-Driven Leadership

Bryan Mann is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. He received his PhD in Educational Theory and Policy from the Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Mann’s research centers on issues of geography and educational policy. KU School of Education and Human Sciences

Dr. Joe Novak is the coordinator of the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS) Master’s program in Educational Administration, director of the Professional Development School program and senior lecturer at the University of Kansas School of Education and Human Sciences. Novak worked as a high school principal for 21 years, after earning his Ed.D. Educational Administration from Kansas State University. Now retired from that role, he returned to teaching, coordinating the Educational Administration program at KU that can help school leaders face the challenges of the ever-changing demographics of classrooms, diverse student needs, staff development and educational research.

Deborah Perbeck earned her EdD at Wichita State University In Educational Leadership. She served over 30 years in a variety of positions in PK-12 education including the district Superintendency.

Dean Richards IV is an assistant teacher professor in the Department of Curriculum & Teaching and lecturer with the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies. He teaches courses in elementary methods, ethical and sociological foundations of education, multicultural education, and curriculum planning. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Kansas and MSE at the University of Central Missouri.

Dr. Stessman serves as the Director of Executive Services for USAKansas. He concluded a 34 year career in public education in 2022, having worked as a teacher, coach, and administrator, including 22 years as a superintendent in districts of varying size across Kansas. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Dana College, a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Emporia State University, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Wichita State University. Dr. Stessman lives in Topeka, Kansas, with his wife and is the father of five adult daughters.