Our Team

ConnectUP is a collaboration among researchers at The University of Kansas, The University of Minnesota, and the University of Virginia.

Karrie Shogren, University of Kansas (shogren@ku.edu)

Karrie Shogren, Ph.D. is a researcher who values partnering with schools to figure out the best ways to support students with disabilities as they navigate secondary school and their transition to adulthood. She works at the University of Kansas and directs the Kansas University Center on Disabilities. KUCD has a large team that focuses on supporting schools, students with disabilities, and their families. The KUCD team has lived disability knowledge, research expertise, and experience in schools and in special education. Karrie partnered with educators and students to develop the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction that will be a part of the ConnectUP project and is excited to support C&C mentors to use it!

Eileen Klemm, University of Minnesota (klem0027@umn.edu)

Eileen Klemm, Ph.D. is the national training director for Check & Connect® at the University of Minnesota (UMN), Institute on Community Integration and is the co-principal investigator from the UMN team on the ConnectUP project. Eileen has experience in translating research into practical strategies for educators, school leaders, and policymakers. She has helped develop tools like the Mentor Practice Profile and the Readiness Tool for Implementing Check & Connect, supporting schools in strengthening student support programs and improving outcomes for at-risk students. She is looking forward to supporting mentors and coordinators during the project.

LaRon Scott, University of Virginia (ysv3ps@virginia.edu)

LaRon Scott, Ed.D. is a professor of special education at the University of Virginia and a co-principal investigator for the project. His research centers on the recruitment, preparation, and retention of teachers, with a particular emphasis on special education teachers of color. He also examines postsecondary transition programming and outcomes for Black youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally, LaRon’s work explores how historical and contemporary policies at the local, state, and federal levels shape the experiences of minoritized special educators. He is excited to support mentors and coordinators through training and material development for this project.

Tyler Hicks, University of Kansas (tahicks@ku.edu)

Tyler Hicks, Ph.D., is the director of the KUCD data science team and is thrilled to be part of the ConnectUp Project. His background is in educational statistics and special education, specifically modeling data from randomized controlled trials with reduced sample sizes within a Bayesian epistemological framework, decision theory, and applications of large language models in data systems to advance disability studies. For the ConnectUP project, he is supporting with all things data- making measures and collecting and analyzing data. He is looking forward to supporting mentors and coordinators to make data-based decisions.

Sonya Eorio, University of Minnesota (eorio001@umn.edu)

Sonya Eorio, M.A., is a program manager for Check & Connect® at the University of Minnesota. She has years of experience working in a variety of educational settings, supporting the academic success, career development, and well-being of students, families, and communities. In her current role, Sonya focuses on sustaining implementation efforts to promote long-term, positive outcomes for students. She is excited to do the same for the ConnectUP project.

Lauren Bruno, University of Kansas (bruno@ku.edu)

Lauren Bruno (she/her), Ph.D. is an Assistant Research Professor at the Kansas University Center on Disabilities. She used to work as a teacher for high-school students with disabilities. Her research focuses on promoting positive post-school outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities by supporting teachers and instructors implement use evidence-based practices in secondary settings, with particular emphasis on self-determination and inclusion. Lauren is excited to support mentors and coordinators in ConnectUp!   

Dasha Gerasimova, University of Kansas (gerasimova@ku.edu)

Dasha Gerasimova, Ph.D. is an Assistant Research Professor and a member of the KUCD data science team. She brings expertise in randomized controlled trials, measurement, and open science. Her research focuses on advancing research methodology and making it more accessible to other researchers as well as on student engagement measurement. Dasha is excited to provide methodological support to the ConnectUP project!

Sheila Ward, University of Minnesota (ward1266@umn.edu)

Sheila Ward, M.A. is an Implementation Specialist for Check & Connect®. She has decades of experience working with students with disabilities of all ages. From the onset of her transition work, she learned the importance of mentoring and self-determination in student success. Sheila has worked collaboratively with national, state, and local education agencies for several years to provide education, training, professional development, and technical assistance to ensure all stakeholders, including students and families, achieve positive outcomes. Sheila is excited to support training and implementation of Check & Connect® in the ConnectUP project!

Hannah Cox, University of Kansas (hannah.cox@ku.edu)

Hannah Cox, MS CCC-SLP is an Education Program Manager at KUCD. She is a licensed speech language pathologist who spent most of her career working with high school students with a variety of developmental and intellectual disabilities. She has focused heavily on parent and teacher education for students who are classified as both ELD/ESL and having a disability. She is passionate about comprehensive, strengths-based collaboration to encourage successful post-school outcomes for all students. For this project, she supports with training and material development. Hannah is excited to support the integration of self-determination instruction and mentorship for the ConnectUP project.

Jessica Blanchat, University of Kansas (jessica.blanchat@ku.edu)

Jessica Blanchat, MA, CCC-SLP is a Research Project Coordinator at KUCD. She is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist with experience supporting children and adults with a variety of disabilities by promoting inclusion, independence, and self-determination in school and community settings. Jessica is excited to contribute to the ConnectUP project by supporting the coordination of research efforts!

Sarina Russo, University of Kansas (sarinarusso@ku.edu)

Sarina Russo, M.A., is a doctoral student and research fellow at KUCD. She has experience in working with children and families with disabilities in and out of the school context. Her research focuses on family involvement, self-determination, and transitions for students with disabilities. Sarina is excited to support the ConnectUP project!

Questions?

Contact connectup@ku.edu to get more information.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse