Scholars
Teleports Scholars
Jacob Brewer, Ph.D. 2024
Dissertation Title: Predicting post-school outcomes of transition aged students with high-incidence disabilities.
Keri Lynn Nass is a first-year Ph.D. student and TELEPORTS Scholar. Keri Lynn began her profession in education after a career change from Property Management, Real Estate Development, and Hospitality. Her journey began at the Early Childhood level as a preschool teacher while pursuing her undergraduate degree in Exceptional Student Education. After years as a secondary classroom teacher working with students with emotional and behavior disabilities, Keri Lynn obtained a master’s degree in Exceptional Student Education and Intervention Specialist as a Project Bridges Scholar at UCF in 2017. This allowed her to lead transition projects and initiatives with Sodexo and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, as well as other school-based enterprises. Students became increasingly successful and motivated when given these hands-on opportunities to receive on-the-job training, mentoring, and skills for post-secondary life. This sparked a passion and purpose to further her work and vision; to increase equity and equality for at-risk and low-income populations to achieve success when transitioning to work, college, and careers. Specifically, related to policy and program reforms, educating leaders and administrators of the significance of hands-on transition programs in secondary schools.
Tahnee L. Wilder, Ph.D. 2023
Dissertation Title: Preparing college students with ADHD for online job interviews: Self-regulation and psychophysiology.
Ashley Grays, Ph.D. 2024
Dissertation Title: Illuminating the Path: The Impact of Digital Innovation on Diversity in Special Education Teacher Preparation.
Kenneth Holman, Ph.D. 2024
Dissertation Title: Mathbot in Motion: Evaluating the Efficacy of an AI-Powered Tool for Enhancing Fraction Comprehension and Situational Interest in Elementary Mathematics.
TJEEI Scholars
Tyler Ayers
Graduate Assistant
Rohan Gilda
Graduate Assistant
Juliana Hirn
Graduate Research Assistant
LEAD IT Scholars
Missy Glavey is currently a Doctoral Candidate in the Exceptional Student Education Program at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Missy’s started her career as a paraprofessional in a self-contained classroom for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). After getting her Master’s degree in Exceptional Student Education from UCF in 2012, Missy worked as a licensed special educator for five years to students with mild to moderate disabilities in K-5 and 9-12 inclusive classrooms. Missy’s teaching, research, and service are rooted in her mission to prepare educators to work with students with disabilities in inclusive K-12 and post-secondary classrooms, to improve the overall quality of inclusive education and the overall quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Missy’s graduate work has largely focused on developing and facilitating community-embedded exceptional education teacher preparation, and equity for individuals with disabilities in access to post-secondary college and career opportunities.
Whitney Hanley is a doctoral candidate, AACTE Holmes Scholar, and LEAD IT scholar in the Ph.D. Exceptional Education program at the University of Central Florida. Whitney received her B.S. in Special Education from the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky and her teaching certificate in Special Education P-12 for students with learning and behavior disorders. She received her M.Ed. from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. While teaching in Georgia, Whitney also completed her Ed.S in Curriculum and Instruction at Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia. For seven years Whitney taught in three different classroom settings. For the first six years of her teaching career, she taught students with learning and behavior disorders in the Elementary setting. In her seventh year of teaching, she taught 8th-grade students with learning and behavior disorders. Her research interests include the use of evidence-based supports and interventions for culturally diverse females with emotional and or behavior disorders.
Annette Romualdo is a doctoral candidate and LEAD-IT scholar in the Exceptional Education program at the University of Central Florida. With a Masters in Secondary Education, mathematics emphasis, and experience in inclusive settings, Annette's passion is to increase equity and equality for students with neurodiversity in post-secondary settings. Annette's research interest is the academic outcome of persons born late-preterm, focusing on adolescence and transition.