Learning and Development

Innovative Teaching for All Students

Our contributions to equity in learning and development are rooted in our research toward understanding developmental processes, new technologies affecting learning, and investigations into the sociological applications needed to serve all students. Instructor understanding and preparation to serve intersectional communities of all abilities is paramount to meeting our shared values of equity and inclusion. Below is a rotating selection of our standout investigators in these fields.

   ○ Recent News and Highlights
   ○ Related Strength: Emancipatory Education

• Selected Publications

  • Europa, E., et al., (2020). Diagnostic Assessment in Primary Progressive Aphasia: An Illustrative Case Example. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 29(4).

    Kulkarni, S., Parmar, J. (2017). Culturally and linguistically diverse student and family perspectives of AAC. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 33(3).

    Krishnan, S., (2024). Reframing Teacher Candidates’ Views on Disability through the Writings of Disabled Authors. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities.

    Megwalu, A., (2015). Academic social networking: a case study on users’ information behavior. Current Issues in Libraries, Information Science and Related Fields (39).

    Sella, F., Slusser, E., Odic, D., Krajcsi, A. (2021). The emergence of children’s natural number concepts: Current theoretical challenges. Child Development Perspectives, 15(4).

• Award Highlights

  • Krishnan, “Project Mosaic” — Department of Education, 2023

    Kulkarni, Kim, Powell, “Playing together: Using learning labs to reduce exclusionary discipline for children of color with disabilities” — Spencer Foundation Racial Equity Special Research Grants, 2021

    Slusser, "Lurie College of Education Early Educator Preparation Program" – The David & Lucile Packard Foundation, 2017

• Affiliates

  • CSU Social Science Research and Instructional Center

    Digital Humanities Center

    Early Childhood Institute

    Healthy Development Community Clinic

    Institute of Regenerative Futures

    Project Mosaic

    Timpany Center

Featured Faculty

Eduardo Europa
Assistant Professor of Communicative Disorders and Sciences
Primary Progressive Aphasia, Dementia, Aphasia, Speech-Language Pathology, Neuroimaging, Neuroscience, Language, Cognition, Aging, Cultural/Linguistic Diversity, Multilingualism
ORCID: 0000-0003-1226-3193

Sudha Krishnan
Assistant Professor of Special Education
Inclusion for Individuals with Significant Disabilities, Intersectionality in Inclusion Factors
ORCID: 0000-0002-5892-1123

Saili S. Kulkarni
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Disability Studies, Teacher Education, Disability Studies Critical Race Theory (DisCrit), Humanizing/Restorative Practices for Young Children of Color with Disabilities
ORCID: 0000-0001-8133-7980

Nidhi Mahendra
Professor of Communication Disorders and Sciences
Speech, Language, Hearing, Dementia, Aphasia, Teaching and Learning, Alzheimer's, Multiculturalism, Diversity
ORCID: 0000-0003-4443-4006

Emily Slusser
Professor of Child and Adolescent Development
Early Childhood, Conceptual Development, Numerical Reasoning, Program Evaluation, Math Education, Language Development
ORCID: 0000-0002-9422-8393

Potential collaborators and members of the media may contact us at officeofresearch@sjsu.edu.