Suzanne Kucharczyk, Ed.D., is head of the Curriculum and Instruction Department within the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions and an associate professor of Special Education. Dr. Kucharczyk is the principal investigator of the Teaming for Transition personnel preparation grant at the University of Arkansas. The T4T grant brings together an interdisciplinary group of faculty across six U of A programs to prepare graduate students to be effective partners in the development and implementation of transition programs for youth with disabilities. Her research examines implementation of evidence-based practices for autistic individuals and those with other developmental disabilities, implementation of professional development programs in schools, learning support for families, and professionals and organizational systems. She coordinated the National Professional Development Center on ASD and was an investigator with the Center for Secondary Education for Youth with Autism. She has extensive experience and expertise as a professional development program developer, implementer and evaluator in addition to her work as a teacher of children and youth with developmental disabilities.
Sheida K. Raley, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of Special Education in the U of A Curriculum and Instruction Department. Her research focuses on assessment and intervention related to self-determination for all students, including students with extensive support needs learning in inclusive contexts. The goal of her research is to understand how to enable all students, including students with and without disabilities, to build abilities and skills associated with self-determination. Prior to joining the University of Arkansas, Dr. Raley was an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas and an assistant research professor at the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities. She received her doctoral degree from the University of Kansas and master’s degree from Vanderbilt University.
Melissa N. Savage, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of Special Education in the U of A Curriculum and Instruction Department. Her research focuses on increasing engagement in physical activity and inclusive community participation for transition-age youth and adults with extensive support needs. She also has experience and expertise working with inclusive postsecondary education programs for college students with intellectual disability. Prior to joining the U of A, Dr. Savage was as an assistant professor at the University of North Texas and an IES postdoctoral research associate at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also spent four years as a secondary Special Education teacher in Indiana.
James Sinclair, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in Special Education in the U of A Curriculum and Instruction Department. His research focuses on the exploration of transition to adulthood for young people with disabilities. Areas of research include the identification of predictors of postschool success, transition assessments and transition to employment for young people with disabilities. In addition, with his background as a mental health clinician, Dr. Sinclair explores the intersection of student mental health and disability. Specifically, he examines systems of implementation and the inclusion of students with disabilities in school mental health practices.