Special Education
Jo R. King
Dr. Jo R. King is an assistant professor in the Educational Leadership & Policy Studies program at BU’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Dr. King uses quantitative research methods to study K–12 education policy in the U.S., with an emphasis on how exclusionary school discipline policies may impact equitable outcomes for marginalized groups. […]
Jennifer Lillis
Dr. Jennifer Lillis is a research scientist at the Wheelock Education Policy Center at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. In this role, she investigates the roles and working conditions of special educators, aiming to improve support systems and instructional quality. Her research also focuses on enhancing college and career readiness, and […]
Jessica Markham
Jessica Markham is a postdoctoral researcher at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Her program of research focuses primarily on the development of instruction, intervention, and educational systems that integrate both social-emotional learning and academic skills. In simple terms, she is interested in how to make learning—and particularly learning to read—more therapeutic […]
Julianne S. Masser
Dr. Julianne Masser is a research scientist and technical assistance provider at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Her expertise is in educational assessment, intervention, and multitiered systems of support. She collaborates with local and state education agencies to provide training and on-site coaching to assist with implementation of evidence-based instructional practices. […]
D’Annette Mullen
Dr. D’Annette Mullen is a lecturer in the Special Education and Education for Equity & Social Justice program at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Known as Dr. Dee, she is a passionate educator and researcher dedicated to fostering equity and innovation in education. Her work artfully intertwines theory, practice, and advocacy […]
Nancy J. Nelson
Dr. Nancy J. Nelson is an assistant professor of special education at Boston University and deputy director of the National Center on Improving Literacy and the Lead for Literacy Center. Dr. Nelson is a former special education teacher and school psychologist, and a principal investigator on more than a dozen federally funded projects to develop […]
Chau Nguyen
Chau Nguyen is a doctoral student in special education at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Her research focuses on early childhood education, advancing equity and inclusion for students from diverse backgrounds in special education settings, and promoting culturally responsive practices that strengthen collaboration between professionals and families. Chau’s professional experience is […]
Ola Ozernov-Palchik
Dr. Ola Ozernov-Palchik is a research assistant professor at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, associate director of translational research in the AI & Education Initiative, and director of the Evidence-Based AI in Learning (EVAL) Industry Collaborative. She is also a research scientist at MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research. Dr. Ozernov-Palchik’s […]
Marissa Piligian
Dr. Marissa Piligian is a part-time instructor at Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, where she teaches graduate-level courses in the master of education in special education program and serves as a practicum supervisor for licensure-seeking teacher candidates. In addition to her work at BU, Dr. Piligian holds a full-time position at […]
Manuel Ramirez
Manuel (Manny) Angel Ramirez is a doctoral student in educational studies with a specialization in special education at BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. A first-generation Latino graduate student, Manuel’s research interests focus on equity in Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and families’ linguistic and cultural comprehension of special education laws. In particular, Manuel […]