October 2014 Volume 2 Issue 2

KUPD October News

KUPD Tailgating Extravaganza

Members of multiple cohorts gathered to celebrate KU’s first football game of the season. Food, lawn games and conversation provided for fun inter-cohort socialization.

Brown Bag with Dr. Sean Smith

Our  first  brown  bag  event  featuring  Dr.  Sean  Smith  discussed  the  use  of  technology  to  assist  educators  as  well  as  technology  to  assist  students.  Over  20  graduate  students  attended.  If  you  missed  it,  the  

PowerPoint  is  available  on  our  KUPD  webpage:  http://specialedu.soe.ku.edu/kupd#events.

Upcoming Events

Oct 15 7:30p

Trivia night at Conroy’s Pub

1

Fall into KUPD!

KUPD Monthly Leadership Meeting

Oct 28 3p

JRP 550

Nov 25 Kozleski

Residence

2nd Annual Cohorts-giving

SAVE THE DATE! The 11th annual KUPD and SOE Graduate

Student Research Conference

October 2014 Volume 2 Issue 2

2

What is your name, where are you from, and what year are you in the program? My name is Kimberly Knackstedt. I grew up in Salem, OR – the coast was one hour West and the mountains were 1 hour Northeast. I am in my second year in the doctoral program.

What are your research interests? I am most interested in educational

policy and implementation and educational systems. My interests are specifically in the area of Least Restrictive Environment – looking at how systems include and exclude students. I am especially enjoying learning about organizational theories and policy analysis as applied to different laws. Seclusion and restraint in schools is a specific research line I am focusing on and my goal is to contribute to the limited research available on the topic.

What led you to special education and your studies here at KU? I completed my undergraduate degree in special education at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. Three out of five of the special education professors attended KU (Applied Behavioral Sciences) and encouraged me to apply for my master. After completing my masters and teaching in schools for four years, I was unhappy with the system. I wanted to find a way to make a change and decided to apply for my doctorate. After my first year, I am positive I made a great decision!

What do you like to do in your free time? My husband, Joe, and I enjoy traveling – both day trips and longer adventures. I also ride horses competitively. I compete in hunter jumpers around Kansas City, and I am helping out with the KU Equestrian Team.

What is your name, where are you from, and what year are you in the program? My name is Rebecca Magario. I am a first-year doctoral student in Special Education. I was born in São Paulo, Brazil but I grew up everywhere (I lived in Chile, Japan, USA, Morocco and Thailand).

What are your research interests? My  research  interests  are  in  the  area  of  instructional  design,  technology  and  innovation.    I  am  also  interested  in  understanding  environmental  design  as  an  agent  for  inclusion.  

What led you to special education and your studies here at KU?  My  love  story  with  Special  Education  can  be  defined  in  two  words:    Technology  +  sister.    I  have  seen  how  technology  and  innovation  can  impact  people’s  life  from  a  personal  perspective  (my  younger  sister,  Rachel  had  a  retinal  detachment  of  both  eyes  at  the  age  of  6.)    Another  motivator  for  pursuing  a  Ph.D.  was  my  work  as  a  design  researcher  in  Thailand,  where  I  found  the  passion  for  classrooms  and  kids’  learning  with  the  use  of  IPad.  I  believe  in  people’s  abilities  and  diversity  as  I  came  from  a  pretty  diverse  background  myself.  I  hope  to  be  able  to  contribute  as  much  as  I  can  for  improving  learning  for  all  students.  Even  more,  why  KU?  Because  as  I  believe  in  people,  faculty  in  this  program  will  be  sure  to  challenge  and  lead  me  to  where  I  want  to  go.

What do you like to do in your free time? Free  time?  What  is  that?  (Smile).  I  have  many  hobbies.  I  am  pretty  good  potter,  I  even  own  a  wheel.  I  also  enjoy  photography  and  cooking  for  friends  and  family.  In  general,  I  try  to  maintain  a  balanced  life,  play  some  sport,  go  to  the  movies,  to  the  lake,  or  read  a  romance.  Oh…  And  I  Facetime  with  my  faraway  siblings  -­‐  my  oldest  brother  in  Brazil  who  just  has  the  cutest  6  months  old  baby  girl  -­‐  Gabi;  and  my  brother  in  Japan,  Renato,  who  has  lived  in  there  for  over  18  years.  Technology  allows  us  to  be  more  “present”  in  each  ones’  life.  I  bow  to  technology!  

KUPD AT A GLANCE KUPD Leadership Team:

Margaret Williamson – Chair

Molly Siuty – Chair-elect

Maggie Beneke – Treasurer

Eric Common – Treasurer-elect

Majed Alsalem – Program Implementation

Debbie Guan – Program Implementation

Getting To Know KUPD

KUPD is a student organization committed to building a lasting network of leader in the field of special education. We strive to advocate for students with disabilities through community involvement, scholarly discourse, professional networks, and innovative research. Our 4 goals are to act as change agents, engage intellectual stimulation, cultural awareness, and develop professional relationships. For more information, contact us at: KUPD@ku.edu OR https://rockchalkcentral.ku.edu/organization/kupd