What research areas do the program faculty specialize in?
Level 3 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., Associate 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., Associate 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., Professor (kavitar@hawaii.edu)
Research Areas: universal design for learning, instructional and assistive technology, culturally and linguistically diverse students, online learning
Linda Oshita, Ph.D, Associate Specialist, (lindao@hawaii.edu)
Teacher education, Mild/Moderate Disabilities
Level 2 Graduate Faculty (may serve on dissertation committees)
Marija Colic (Assistant Professor)
Stigma, discrimination and social justice from the lenses of families of people with autism and historically marginalized populations
Lyndsey Conradi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor (lconradi@hawaii.edu)
Research Areas:Students with severe disabilities, inclusion in general education settings, positive behavior supports
Cindy Farley, PhD, Assistant Professor (farley87@hawaii.edu)
Teacher education, evidence-based practices, high-leverage practices in special education
Sarah Fishstrom (Assistant Professor)
Effective instructional practices-reading difficulties and disabilities; Evidence-based reading instruction and interventions; Social-emotional supports; Teacher support & professional development.
Rockey Knox, Ph.D., Assistant Professor (rknox@hawaii.edu)
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
Kelsey Oliver (Assistant Professor)
Inclusion, students with extensive support needs, autism, ADHD, teacher preparation & professional development, early childhood/elementary education, implementation & dissemination science
Shawna Ortogero, Ph.D., Assistant Professor (saveiro@hawaii.edu)
Research Areas: Special Education Teacher Preparation, Administrative Support in Special Education, Specially Designed Instruction
Affiliate Graduate Faculty & Emeritus:
Mary Jo Noonan, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus (noonan@hawaii.edu)
Patricia Sheehey, Ph.D., Professor (sheehey@hawaii.edu)
