Sunny Kim, PhD, BCBA-D, is an associate professor of special education. Her primary research centers on instructional methods to support school readiness and successful inclusion of young children of color with disabilities. She is a PI of UIC Early Childhood Future Faculty program supported by IBHE/ECACE.

 

–   Principal Investigator

Michelle Parker-Katz, PhD is Clinical Professor in the Department of Special Education where she also coordinates the master’s programs. She enjoys teaching undergraduate through doctoral students in the College of Education along with courses in the UIC Certificate in Foundations of College Teaching and related CIRTL programs. Her research and grant-related focuses are on teacher inquiry, teacher learning, and participation in authentic urban collaborations of educators, students, families and an array of community stakeholders.

 

– Co-Principal Investigator

Stephanie Fernandez is a Mexican American researcher (she/her) who lives in the United States and studies teacher and family’s experiences with young children with disabilities. She is an Early Childhood Special Education teacher working with children with and without disabilities in primarily Latino communities while also focusing on supporting the families of young diverse learners.

 

–  Program Coordinator 

Rohan Karle Sudarshan is a diligent Graduate student with a background in computer science with a passion for enhancing education accessibility. Currently employed as a CHIME (Collaborative Teaching for Young and Diverse Children with High Intensity Needs and Multiple Disabilities in Blended Environments) technician within the Department of Special Education at University of Illinois at Chicago, he applies his technical expertise to support and innovate educational approaches for students with diverse needs.

 

– CHIME Technician