Profile

Dr. Matthew Marino is a Professor of Exceptional Student Education and Director of the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute at the University of Central Florida. His leadership includes being a principal investigator co-principal investigator on 17 state and federally funded contracts and grants totaling over $72 million since 2010 from agencies including the Institute of Education Sciences, National Science Foundation, and Office of Special Education Programs. As a co-principal investigator of the Center for Innovation. Design, and Digital Learning (CIDDL), Dr. Marino leads research focused on AI-enhanced learning, Universal Design, and technology-based STEM interventions for individuals with disabilities. His portfolio includes over 80 peer-reviewed publications and 100 invited presentations. He serves as affiliate faculty in the Learning Sciences Cluster, Lockheed Martin Academy, and Interactive Computing Experience Research Cluster. His scholarly contributions emphasize inclusive innovation, data-driven decision-making, and the ethical application of emerging technologies in educator preparation. View Dr. Marino’s publications at his Google Scholar website.

• Instructional Design for diverse populations
• Universal Design for Learning
• Executive function
• Transition from school to work

• B.S. Animal Science, University of Connecticut
• M.A. Education, Johnson State College, Vermont
• Ph.D. Special Education, University of Connecticut

Dr. Matthew Marino’s research, which has been supported in part by more than 17 million dollars in federal grants from the Institute of Education Sciences, the Office of Special Education Programs, and the National Science Foundation, focuses on the design and implementation of technology-enhanced STEM curricular materials. He conducted large-scale intervention research in 14 states with over 2000 students during the past decade. He is a technical reviewer for the National Science Foundation, a past reviewer for the Institute of Education Sciences, and a member of the leadership team for the Universal Design for Learning Implementation and Research Network. He was a featured STEM research scientist by the Family Center on Technology and Disability and a 2017 winner of the Inspiring Leaders in STEM award.

• STEM education
• Universal Design for Learning
• Educational video game development and testing
• School to work transition
• Teacher preparation

• iSTEM fellow
• Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute Affiliate Faculty
• Lockheed Martin UCF Academy Affiliate Faculty

• Learning Sciences Cluster Affiliate Faculty
• Interactive Systems and User Experience Research Cluster of Excellence
• Interactive Systems and User Experience Research Cluster of Excellence Affiliate Faculty

Dr. Marino is a co-principal investigator on three currently funded projects:

• The National Center for Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning (Office of Special Education Programs award #H327F200008)
• Dream2B (NSF award #1949122)
• Technology Enhanced Learning Enabled by Partner Organizations, Research, & Teaching Success: TELEPORTS

Dr. Marino is on the editorial review board for a number of special education, science, and technology journals. He is a technical reviewer for the National Science Foundation, a past reviewer for the Institute of Education Sciences. At the local level, he is a member of the School Advisory Council for a highly regarded STEM school of choice in Brevard County, FL. He also serves on several university committees and is the interim director of the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute.

• UCF Luminary Award Winner (2024)
• Promotion to Full Professor (2018)
• Inspiring Leaders in STEM Award, presented by Insight into Diversity (2017)
• Research Incentive Award, presented by the University of Central Florida (2017)
• Video Games developed from IES and NSF funded projects featured as exemplar science learning games by the U.S. Department of Education in the publication “Reimagining the Role of Technology in Education” (p. 22) (2017)
• Video Games developed from IES and NSF funded projects featured as exemplar science learning games in the U.S. Department of Education publication “Future Ready Learning” (p. 20) (2016)
• iSTEM Fellow, University of Central Florida (2015)

• EEX 4242: Teaching Exceptional Students in Secondary Settings
• EEX 6065: Programming for Students with Disabilities at the Secondary Level (Secondary Methods)
• EEX 7865: Internship in College Instruction
• EEX 7527: Professional/Grant Writing in Special Education