Meet Our Inclusive Education Faculty & Staff

Faculty in the Inclusive Education Department represent a wide range of teaching, research interests, and professional experiences. The department houses both Special Education and TESOL. Using an asset-based perspective, faculty in each area are committed to preparing educators to be able to meet the needs of diverse learners and ensure student success.

Faculty

Name
Position

  • alta brouhgton

    Assistant Professor of Special Education

    abrough8@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-4304
    BEB 439

    Dr. Broughton is Assistant Professor of Special Education and Dyslexia Program Coordinator in the Inclusive Education Department at Kennesaw State University. Her multidisciplinary work bridges teacher education, bilingual/English Learner education, and special education. She brings a breadth and depth of experiences fostering university-school district partnerships ranging from developing community-engaged courses to designing a Teacher Residency for bilingual special and general education pre-service teachers. Her work is informed by a decade of teaching experience as a special education teacher and literacy coach in multilingual schools in the United States, Brazil, and Honduras. Joy has published and presented nationally and internationally on equitable education for bi/multilingual English Learners in teacher preparation, special education policy, and bi/literacy for ELs with learning disabilities.
     

  • jayoung choi

    Professor of TESOL

    jchoi44@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-2231
    BEB 434

    Associate Professor of TESOL in the Inclusive Education Department

  • melissa driver

    Associate Dean for Curriculum Catalyst & Innovations and Professor of Special Education

    mdriver6@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-2512
    BEB 322

  • Zurisaray Espinosa

    Clinical Assistant Professor of TESOL

    zespinos@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-7854
    BEB 437

  • natasha griffin

    Limited Term Assistant Professor of Special Education

    ngriff28@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-3340
    BEB 433

  • joya hicks

    Associate Professor of Special Education

    jcarterh@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6146
    BEB 428

    I have extensive experience in preparing pre-service and in-service teachers and leaders in providing fully-inclusive evidenced-based practices for working with children and their families.

  • zachary johnson

    Assistant Professor of Special Education

    zjohnso4@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-3297
    BEB 430

  • nihal khote

    Associate Professor of TESOL

    nvk4987@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-2121
    BEB 438

  • vidya munandar

    Assistant Professor of Special Education

    vmunanda@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-2765
    BEB 440

    I teach undergraduate and graduate courses on curriculum and instruction for students with diverse learning abilities in inclusive settings. My research interests include career development process of youth and young adults with disabilities, transition practices to support jobseekers and employees with disabilities in integrated employment settings, and the role of stakeholders in improving transition outcomes.

  • amanda richey

    Professor of TESOL

    arichey1@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-2769
    BEB 436

    My research interests are focused on issues of culture and representation in curriculum, family and community engagement, and literacy practices.

  • denise ross

    Chair of the Department of Inclusive Education and Professor of Special Education

    dross71@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-4736
    BEB 443

  • Lorilei Thompson

    Clinical Assistant Professor of Special Education

    lthomp53@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-7543
    BEB 431

    Dr. Thompson is a passionate and knowledgeable educational professional with several yearsâ experience working in academia supporting teacher candidates as an Assistant Clinical Field Supervisor of Special Education in inclusive education courses, as well as being clinical field supervisor to graduate level students at Kennesaw State University.  As a seasoned educator, community advocate and parent, Lorilei is passionate about knowing the capability within each student and supports them to be the best individuals they can be. Lorilei's mission is to support preservice teachers where they have the opportunity to be successful in the field of special education. Lorilei graduated from West Virginia University in 2024 with a Doctor of Special Education degree.

 

Staff

Name
Position