College of EducationSPEDFAQs

What research areas do the program faculty specialize in?

Full Members of the Graduate Faculty (may chair or serve on dissertation committees):

  • Rhonda S. Black, Ed.D., Professor (rblack@hawaii.edu)
    • Research Areas: transition, secondary special education, social competence and integration, teacher education, disability in media
  • Sara Cook, Ph.D., Assistant Professor (cothren@hawaii.edu)
    • Research Areas: learning disabilities, evidence based practices, co-teaching, pre-service teacher education, assessment in special education
  • Jennifer Ninci, Ph.D., Assistant Professor (jninci@hawaii.edu)
    • Research Areas: Applied behavior analysis; Systems change; Early childhood education; Variables affecting motivation and engagement; Assessment and treatment of challenging behavior; Adaptive skill development and generalization; Validity in single-case research data analysis and aggregation; Applied behavior analysis supervision and consultation
  • Cecily Ornelles, Ph.D., Associate Professor (cecily@hawaii.edu)
    • Research Areas: students with mild/moderate disabilities, instructional strategies, social competence, teacher education
  • Kavita Rao, Ph.D., Associate Professor (kavitar@hawaii.edu)
    • Research Areas: universal design for learning, instructional and assistive technology, culturally and linguistically diverse students, online learning
  • Jenny Wells, Ph.D., Professor (jwells@hawaii.edu)
    • Research Areas: autism, severe disabilities, teacher preparation, reading
Associate Members of the Graduate Faculty (may serve on dissertation committees):
  • Lyndsey Conradi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor (lconradi@hawaii.edu)
    • Research Areas: Students with severe disabilities, inclusion in general education settings, positive behavior supports
  • Caryl H. Hitchcock, Ph.D., Associate Professor (chh@hawaii.edu)
    • Research Areas: video self-modeling, computer-assisted instruction, learning strategies, multiculturalism, positive behavior supports
  • David Leake, Ph.D., Associate Specialist (leake@hawaii.edu)
    • Research Areas: transition to adulthood, emotional/behavioral disorders, social integration, self-determination
  • Rockey Knox, Ph.D., Assistant Professor (rknox@hawaii.edu)
    • Research Areas: Transdisciplinary Knowledge Development, Educational Neuroscience, Adolescent Development, Teacher Education
  • Paul Meng, Ph.D., Assistant Professor (paulmeng@hawaii.edu)
    • Research Areas: Data-based decision making; Racial equity in disciplinary and academic outcomes; Reading assessment; Integrated academic and behavioral supports; Reading instruction and intervention
  • Maryam Nozari, Ph.D., Assistant Professor (nozari@hawaii.edu)
    • Research Areas: Development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions for students with or at risk for mathematics difficulties; Teacher professional development in mathematics; Students’ mathematical development and STEM learning
  • Shawna Ortogero, Ph.D., Assistant Professor (saveiro@hawaii.edu)
    • Research Areas: Special Education Teacher Preparation, Administrative Support in Special Education, Specially Designed Instruction
  • Kiriko Takahashi, Ph.D., Associate Professor (kiriko@hawaii.edu)
    • Research Areas: Learning Disabilities, Assistive Technology, Culturally Responsive Teaching, STEM, International Education, Disability Studies
Affiliate Graduate Faculty & Emeritus:
  • Mary Jo Noonan, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus (noonan@hawaii.edu)
  • Patricia Sheehey, Ph.D., Professor (sheehey@hawaii.edu)