Department Of Special Education

By Jenna Somers Alex Astrella At age two Alex Astrella, MEd’23, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. His parents were told that he had little chance of graduating high school or becoming financially independent. Today, Astrella is the founder and CEO of Blu Star Productions, an award-winning film studio… Read More

Eight exceptional Vanderbilt students are embarking on transformative global journeys as this year’s cohort of the Michael B. Keegan Traveling Fellowship program. Read More

The IRIS Center at Vanderbilt, which provides free online resources about teaching and learning, helped about 1.5 million people from all 50 states, more than 1,000 public school districts and more than 1,500 U.S. colleges and universities. That’s an increase of 15 percent over 2022, reflecting the growing importance of online instructional resources in today’s educational landscape. And its reach is even broader than that—hospitals, health care systems and justice systems logged in to benefit from its effective, evidence-based resources. Read More

Laurie Cutting, Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Special Education (Harrison McClary/Vanderbilt University) Laurie E. Cutting, a pioneering educational neuroscientist devoted to unlocking the mysteries of brain function in learning, has been named the 2025 SEC Faculty Achievement Award winner from Vanderbilt University. The annual award honors… Read More

By Jennifer Kiilerich Meghan Burke, professor of special education at Peabody College Only about 20 percent of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities currently access formal support services. Meghan Burke, professor of special education at Vanderbilt Peabody College, has built a career around growing that number, helping… Read More

The scholarship, with funds provided by Vanderbilt University, will support students in the Next Steps at Vanderbilt program. Based in Peabody College of education and human development, Next Steps is a four-year, postsecondary certificate program for neurodiverse students. “This scholarship is an exciting development that aligns with the… Read More

By Jenna Somers A successful classroom-based reading program designed by researchers at Vanderbilt University is under consideration for a large-scale evaluation in England. Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) in Reading is a peer-mediated approach that encourages students to practice important reading skills together. A recently funded evaluation of… Read More

The Roberts Academy and Dyslexia Center at Vanderbilt will celebrate its next milestone when it breaks ground at its permanent location, the corner of 18th Avenue South and Edgehill Avenue, in January 2025. Read More

By Jenna Somers and Krystal Schmidt Toddlers may not be the first people who come to mind when thinking about scientists at Vanderbilt University, but that is exactly who the little tykes at the Susan Gray School are. The preschool recently opened a new STEM laboratory for kids… Read More

By Jenna Somers Students in the International Education Policy and Management Master of Education program, 11/15/24 (Photo by Joe Howell/Vanderbilt University) On November 15th, international students in EDUC 5100: U.S. Education Concepts and Communication at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development kicked off International Education Week… Read More

In September, Peabody Global Initiatives welcomed visitors from institutions in Ukraine, Morocco, and China to deepen connections and explore opportunities for future collaborations. Peabody Global Initiatives is a new initiative of Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development to support faculty to pursue international research and disseminate knowledge,… Read More

By Jenna Somers Students’ relationships with their teachers, particularly in elementary school, play an important role in supporting their learning and social-emotional development. For students with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders, quality relationships with their teachers are especially critical. These bonds can reduce instances of challenging behavior… Read More

By Kurt Brobeck August 12 marked a significant milestone as the new Roberts Academy at Vanderbilt University opened its doors to 21 third- and fourth-grade students. Currently in a temporary location on the Vanderbilt campus, the academy is designed to be a transitional school providing intensive reading intervention and elementary… Read More

By Jenna Somers Joseph Lambert Children with autism are more likely than their typically developing peers to engage in challenging behavior, which can lead to injury, lower rates of social inclusion, and adverse effects on learning. To support these children, special education professionals in schools need training on functional analysis… Read More

Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development welcomed six new faculty members this fall. They join the Departments of Special Education; Teaching and Learning; Human and Organizational Development; and Leadership, Policy, and Organizations. Golnaz Arastoopour Irgens, assistant professor of human-centered… Read More

Jason Chow Jason Chow, associate professor of special education and of hearing and speech sciences, received two training grants for $2.49 and $3.72 million from the Office of Special Education Programs in the U.S. Department of Education to prepare leadership personnel in special education. Rachel Schless, Photo by Joe… Read More

This fall, Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development seeks to strengthen and advance its global reach. The Peabody Research Office will expand its mission and strategy to include Peabody Global Initiatives. Peabody Global Initiatives will support faculty to pursue international research and disseminate knowledge as well… Read More

Joseph Cunningham, 82, an accomplished administrator and professor at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2024, at his home in Lake City, Pennsylvania. Read More

Peabody College Special Education research assistant professor and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center member Ben Schwartzman recently received funding from the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation to create a peer mentorship program between job-seeking and employed adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Read More

In May, the Nashville Partnership for Education Equity Research—a collaboration between Metro Nashville Public Schools and Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development—hosted its inaugural research symposium at the MNPS Martin Center for Professional Development. The symposium included poster presentations on research projects to improve equity outcomes… Read More