Current Doctoral Students

Picture	Description
	Christine Baxter Christine Baxter taught students with disabilities for five years at the elementary level. Her areas of emphasis in her doctoral studies are early childhood education and early childhood special education. She is currently a teaching graduate assistant in the Department of Special Education. She is particularly interested in inclusive programs and Universal Design for Learning in early childhood. Her goal is to work in higher education.
	Cecilia Billow Cecilia Billow has taught students with learning disabilities at the elementary level. The focus of her doctoral studies includes students with learning disabilities and intellectual disabilities. Her research area is reading strategies (e.g., long vowel sounds). Her goal is to work in higher education.
	Teresa Byington Teresa Byington is an Assistant Professor/Area Extension Specialist in early childhood education at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. The focus of her doctoral studies is autism and developmental disabilities. Her research interests include professional development, mentoring of early childhood interventionists, and obesity prevention. Her goal is to continue working in higher education.
	Wendie Lappin Castillo Wendie Lappin Castillo taught students with learning disabilities for seven years at the secondary level. Her doctoral studies focus on the areas of learning disabilities and gifted and talented education. Her research involves math and reading literacy, twice exceptional students, and music-integrated instruction. Her goal is to work in higher education and with non-profit agencies.
	Sonja Collins No biographical description.
	Vanessa Fessenden Vanessa Fessenden is a private behavioral consultant. She previously taught students with autism. The focus of her doctoral studies is on early childhood special education and autism. Her research interests include effective treatments and early detection of children with autism.
	William Garnett William Garnett taught students with moderate to severe disabilities for seven years. His field experience involves working in group homes and service delivery organizations. He is currently a teaching graduate assistant in the Department of Special Education. His research focuses on individuals with intellectual disabilities and the criminal justice system, school discipline, and juvenile corrections.
	Jennifer Hart Jennifer L. Hart is a teaching graduate assistant in the Department of Educational & Clinical Studies.Her experience includes teaching in inclusive preschool classrooms, training and mentoring preschool teachers, and mentoring UNLV students completing their practicum or student teaching experience. The focus of her current research is on aggressive play behavior (symbolic aggression), which is a major component of various types of young children’s sociodramatic play. More specifically, she is interested in the perceptions and benefits of all types of aggressive play behavior, the developmental impact this play behavior has on preschool-aged children—particularly boys—and the needed reform of local and state policies that ban such play. Her goal is to work in higher education and continue to train and mentor preschool teachers.
	Chris Holcomb Chris Holcomb has worked with students with autism and related disabilities for over 16 years (e.g., assessment, treatment, language, ABA). His doctoral studies focus on autism and early childhood special education. His research interests include digital behavior intervention programs, video modeling, and other technology-related interventions and tools. His goal is to work in higher education with a focus on research and continue consulting with clinics and school districts.
	Joe Holguin Joe Holguin has provided services to students with disabilities as a teacher in homebound education as well as in the classroom. His areas of focus are technology, autism and intellectual disabilities. He currently is a member of the State of Nevada's Special Education Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors of the Nevada State Education Association.
	Catherine S. Howerter Catherine S. Howerter has taught in a resource room at the elementary level and in the middle school as a collaborative/inclusion teacher. She currently works as a teaching graduate assistant in the Department of Special Education. The areas of focus in her doctoral studies are learning disabilities and emotional/behavioral disorders. Her research interests include collaborative teaching models, inclusion, technology, and teacher education. Her goal is to work in higher education.
	Yun-Ju Hsiao Yun-Ju Hsiao is a research graduate assistant in the Department of Special Education. She serves as the Editorial Assistant for the journal Intervention in School and Clinic. The areas of focus in her doctoral studies are autism and early childhood special education. Her current research interests include academic instruction for students with autism, responsive teaching for young children, and interventions for young children from culturally and linguistically diverse families. Her goal is to work in higher education.
	Pamela M. Juniel Pamela M. Juniel has taught students with disabilities for five years at the elementary and secondary levels. The focus of her doctoral studies is on students with learning disabilities and autism. Her research interests include assessment, transition, and post-secondary retention of students with disabilities. Her goal is to work in higher education.
	Karen Kanwhen Karen Kanwhen is currently teaching students with autism in a self contained classroom for Clark County School District. The areas of focus in her doctoral studies are autism, learning disabilities and Applied Behavior Analysis. Her current research interests include teacher preparation/professional development as it relates to special education, academic instruction for students with autism, and interventions for children with autism from culturally and linguistically diverse families. Her goal is to work in higher education as well as consulting for school districts and private clinics.
	Troy Kieser No biographical description.
	Delilah Krasch Delilah Krasch has taught young children with autism for six years and general education for three years. The focus of her studies is autism and early childhood special education. Her research interests are video modeling, social skills, and inclusion. Her goal is to work in higher education.
	Patrick A. Leytham Patrick A. Leytham is currently teaching students with moderate to severe autism. The focus of his doctoral studies is on autism and intellectual disabilities. His research interests include reading strategies, English Language Learners, and behavior management. He is the Newsletter Editor for the UNLV Student Council for Exceptional Children Chapter. His goal is to work in higher education.
	Jessica Love Jessica Love has worked as a behavior therapist with young children with autism in the home setting as well as in social-recreation programs with older children. She has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses at UNLV. Currently she works as the Project Coordinator for the UNLV Center for Autism, and is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Her research interests are vocal stereotypy, Positive Behavior Supports, and Picture Exchange Communication Training. Her goals are to consult, teach, and conduct research in a higher education setting.
	Robert Marsh Robert Marsh has taught students with Autism in the middle school environment for four years. His doctoral focus is on adolescent, young adult, and adult individuals with autism. His research interests include job placement for individuals with autism as well as behavior and social skill training and development as it relates to a workplace environment.
	Teri Marx Teri Marx has worked for nine years with inner-city youth in a college-readiness program as an Assistant Program Director and Summer Camp Director. She also has worked as a school social worker. She currently is a graduate assistant in the Department of Special Education. The focus of her doctoral studies is on special education law, policy, advocacy and assessment.
	Michael Morrisett Michael Morrisett is in his fifth year of teaching students with intellectual disabilities. His doctoral studies focus on learning disabilities and intellectual disabilities. His areas of research are inclusion, direction instruction used with students with intellectual disabilities, and quality of life issues for people with moderate to profound needs.
	Leslie Nelson Leslie Nelson has worked with students with disabilities for 15 years. For three years, she has taught students with autism in preschool and kindergarten. The focus of her doctoral studies is autism and learning disabilities. Her research interests include technology and functional communication, emergent literacy, parent and teacher collaboration, and response to intervention. Her goal is to work in higher education.
	Rae Ette Newman Rae Ette Newman teaches in a Title I pre-kindergarten program with English Language Learners. She also has taught early childhood special education for students with autism. Her area of focus in the doctoral program is early childhood education. Her research interests are parental support systems, English as a second language, and program development/evaluation. Her goal is to work in higher education.
	Neal Nghia Nguyen Neal Nguyen has taught in general education for five years in Clark County, Nevada and Kissimmee, Florida. He was awarded as Teacher of the Year at Thacker Avenue Elementary School in 2008. For the past three years, he was a graduate teaching assistant. Currently, he is a visiting lecturer in the Department of Educational and Clinical Studies at UNLV. His doctoral studies focus on autism and early childhood education. His research interests include early childhood education/early childhood special education, teacher/instructional qualities in inclusive primary settings, and early/systematic reading program development for students with autism and neuro-typical developing students. His goal is to work in a teacher-focused four-year college or university.
	Rebecca Norton Rebecca Norton has taught for 30 years. Over the last 17 years, she has taught students with gifts and talents. The areas of focus of her doctoral studies are learning disabilities and gifted and talented education. Her research interests include achievement of students with gifts and talents, the impact of national trends on students with high abilities, and the emotional impact of traditional instruction on students with gifts and talents. Her goal is to work in higher education or for a school district.
	Katie Scarlett O'Hara Katie Scarlett O'Hara has taught elementary school for six years. In this time period, she has taught students with learning disabilities and autism. Her doctoral studies focus on the areas of autism and early childhood special education. Her research interests are inclusion in preschool and kindergarten settings (particularly for students with autism) and the use of technology with students with autism. Her goal is to work in higher education.
	Conrad Oh-Young Conrad Oh-Young currently works in the UNLV College of Education. His research interests include assistive technology and the impact of technology interventions on all students with disabilities. His goal is to work in higher education and higher education administration.
	Jany Ortiz-Robinson Jany Ortiz-Robinson has taught students with developmental delays for 12 years. Her doctoral studies focus on developmental disabilities and intellectual disabilities, particularly those students considered at risk. Her research interests are multicultural education, the involvement of Latino parents, and early interventions strategies. Her goal is to work in higher education.
	David Rago David Rago has taught students with learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders, and autism for 18 years at the elementary and junior high levels. The focus of his doctoral studies is on autism and learning disabilities. His research interests include writing strategies and positive behavioral supports. His goal is to work in higher education.
	Joanne Ringer Joanne Ringer has taught students with emotional/behavioral disorders for three years. The focus of her doctoral program is learning disabilities and emotional/behavioral disorders. Her research interests include positive behavior supports and drop out prevention. Her goal is to work in higher education.
	Lena Sankovich Lena Sankovich works as a facilitator with the Low Incidence Disabilities Team. She has also taught children with autism. The focus of her doctoral studies is autism and applied behavior analysis. Her goal is to work in higher education and as a consultant in autism and behavior.
	Lori Schwank Lori Schwank has taught students with autism and intellectual disabilities at the secondary level for three years. The focus of her doctoral studies is on autism and intellectual disabilities. Her research interests include alternate assessments, transition preparation, inclusive practices, and policy change in special education. Her goal is to work at the state and national level on special education policy.
	Lidia Sedano Lidia Sedano worked as a teacher and in various other capacities in the school district for 10 years. She currently is a teaching graduate student in the Department of Special Education. The focus of her doctoral studies is learning disabilities and gifted and talented education. Her research interests include families from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and literacy development for second language learners. Her goal is to work in higher education.
	Rene Segler No biographical description.
	Shannon Sparks Shannon Sparks has taught students with intellectual disabilities at the secondary level for three years. She currently works as a teacher facilitator for the STEP Program and mentors teachers who work with students with autism and intellectual disabilities. The focus of her doctoral studies is on autism, intellectual disabilities, and learning disabilities. Her research interests include choice making, transition, post-secondary success, and quality of life issues. Her goal is to continue working in teacher education.
	Cynthia Stunkard Cynthia Stunkard has worked in the field of education for 22 years. She currently teaches 5th grade at a professional development school affiliated with UNLV. Her research focus is on the foster care system and students with disabilities. Her goal is to work in higher education.
	Janet Vanheck Janet Vanheck has taught students with learning disabilities for two years. The focus of her doctoral studies is learning disabilities and intellectual disabilities. Her research interests revolve around mathematics instruction and co-teaching. Her goal is to work in higher education.
	Jamie Waitman Jamie Waitman has taught students with intellectual disabilities at the secondary level for four years. The focus of her doctoral studies is autism and intellectual disabilities. Her research interests include the use of technology with students with intellectual disabilities and transition issues. Her goal is to become a school administrator.
	Kurtis Williams Kurtis Williams has taught students with disabilities for 12 years in both New Mexico and Nevada. He currently is teaching at the high school level and is completing his 7th year of teaching for the Clark County School District. His research interests focus on teaching mathematics to students with learning disabilities.
	Dolores Williamson Dolores Williamson has taught students with intellectual disabilities at the secondary level for four years. She currently works as a Project Facilitator for the Alternative Route to Licensure Program. The focus of her doctoral studies is intellectual disabilities and autism. Her research interests are promoting English language learning, improving outcomes for students with disabilities who are homeless, and transition/vocational planning for students with intellectual disabilities. Her goal is to continue working in teacher education.
	Allenda Zionch Allenda Zionch has taught students with intellectual disabilities in a post-secondary setting for five years. The focus of her doctoral studies is intellectual disabilities and autism. Her research interests include postsecondary transition and technology applications for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. Her goal is to work in higher education.

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Current Doctoral Students