Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community

School of Education Awarded $3.7M Department of Education Grant to Recruit Special Education Leaders

Friday, September 29, 2023, By Martin Walls
Share
Center on Disability and InclusionSchool of EducationTaishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education

Syracuse University’s School of Education (SOE) has been awarded a $3.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to prepare—along with two partner institutions—a new generation of leaders in special education, early intervention and related services.

Project Inclusive, Multicultural, Multilingual, Effective and Responsive Special Education (IMMERSE) aims to prepare up to 14 doctoral-level special education professors and educational leaders through a multi-university partnership. These students will gain expertise in inclusive, culturally-sustaining, effective educational practices with the goal of improving outcomes for diverse students with disabilities, both in high-needs schools and minority-serving institutions. Together, this doctoral cohort will represent a new collaborative consortium of diverse scholars in the field of inclusive special education.

A woman smiles while posing for a headshot indoors.

Christine Ashby, director of the School of Education’s Center on Disability and Inclusion

Project IMMERSE is led by SOE professor Christy Ashby G’01, G’07, G’08, director of the Center on Disability and Inclusion. Ashby is joined by co-principal investigators, SOE professor Beth Myers, executive director of the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education; SOE professor Julia M. White G’05, G’07; professors Allison Nannemann, Sarah Carlson and Yen Pham of the University of New Mexico; and SOE alumni professors Casey Woodfield G’10, G’16, Michelle Damiani G’05, G’14, G’19 and Brent Elder G’14, G’16 of Rowan University.

“Project IMMERSE is well positioned to address a persistent shortage of both special education faculty in institutions of higher education and highly qualified pre-K-12 special education teachers, especially with expertise to meet the needs of diverse students with disabilities,” Ashby says. “Through our consortium with Rowan University and the University of New Mexico, this cohort-based project will prepare much-needed and highly qualified leaders with specialization in culturally and linguistically responsive inclusive instruction, interventions and services.”

The project addresses a current critical need for special education teachers at a time when there are an estimated 36,500 teacher vacancies nationwide and more than 100,000 teaching positions filled by underqualified personnel. This shortage means school districts across the country are relying on uncertified teachers to fill classrooms. Of the approximately 109,000 uncertified teachers, around 5,800 are special education teachers.

At the same time, although demand for special education teachers is expected to increase in the next decade, an unprecedented shortage of special education professors nationwide has led to a drop in the number of graduates ready to assume special education faculty and leadership positions.

Moreover, research indicates that current educators in special education roles are primarily white and female, with only 18% being teachers of color. Similarly, the makeup of special education faculty and doctoral students is overwhelmingly white and female. Yet almost half of students with disabilities are students of color.

“This is a concerning reality given evidence demonstrating that students benefit from having teachers who represent their own identities,” says Ashby.

To counter this disparity, Project IMMERSE will feature a multifaceted recruitment and mentoring process guided by experienced faculty across the three partner universities. Students’ shared academic experiences will emphasize culturally responsive and inclusive instructional practices, while also conducting research into high-needs, diverse communities.

“My colleagues and I are thrilled to be part of this multi-university partnership and contribute to diversifying the field of special education leaders,” Woodfield says. “As three SOE alumni, professor Damiani, professor Elder and I consider this partnership to be an example of the generative possibilities that can grow out of sustained collaboration and shared commitments to cultivating intersectional, culturally sustaining, and inclusive experiences across all facets of schooling. We look forward to working alongside Project IMMERSE doctoral scholars.”

  • Author

Martin Walls

  • Recent
  • Empowering Learners With Personalized Microcredentials, Stackable Badges
    Thursday, July 3, 2025, By Hope Alvarez
  • WISE Women’s Business Center Awarded Grant From Empire State Development, Celebrates Entrepreneur of the Year Award
    Thursday, July 3, 2025, By Dawn McWilliams
  • Rose Tardiff ’15: Sparking Innovation With Data, Mapping and More
    Thursday, July 3, 2025, By News Staff
  • Paulo De Miranda G’00 Received ‘Much More Than a Formal Education’ From Maxwell
    Thursday, July 3, 2025, By Jessica Youngman
  • Law Professor Receives 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award
    Thursday, July 3, 2025, By Robert Conrad

More In Campus & Community

Rose Tardiff ’15: Sparking Innovation With Data, Mapping and More

While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in geography in the Maxwell School, Rose Tardiff ’15 became involved with the Salt City Harvest Farm, a community farm near Syracuse where newcomers from all over the world grow food and make social connections….

Paulo De Miranda G’00 Received ‘Much More Than a Formal Education’ From Maxwell

Early in his career, Paulo De Miranda G’00 embarked on several humanitarian aid and peacekeeping assignments around the world. “When we concluded our tasks, we wrote reports about our field work, but many times felt that little insight was given…

Law Professor Receives 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award

College of Law Professor Suzette Meléndez, director of the Syracuse Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic, was honored with a 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award at their 45th Annual Freedom Fund Award Dinner. Meléndez received the Maye, McKinney & Melchor Freedom…

A&S Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to Retire; New Appointment Announced

After over four decades of dedicated service to the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), Professor Gerald Greenberg is retiring at the end of 2025. He transitioned from his role as A&S senior associate dean for academic affairs; humanities; and…

Delaware Nonprofit Leader Begins 2-Year Term as Alumni Association President

Alonna Berry ’11, executive director of the Delaware Center for Justice and a graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, is the new president of the Syracuse University Alumni Association (SUAA) Board of Directors, as of July 1, 2025….

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • X
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2025 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.