Mel Spence

Mel Spence is an Associate Professor in the Department of Learning and Teaching at California Lutheran University's Graduate School of Education. She also serves as Assistant Dean of Assessment and Accreditation and TPA Coordinator. Her expertise spans special education, autism spectrum disorders, and educational leadership.

Education: Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from California Lutheran University (20XX) and M.Ed. in Severe Special Needs from Boston College (20XX). Professional experience includes 22 years working with individuals with autism, including 10 years as a special education teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Research focuses on instructional efficacy for non-speaking/minimally verbal autism students, integrating social-emotional learning and executive functioning into core curricula. Teaching includes courses on assessment, IEP development, and non-academic supports.

Awards include the Tom E.C. Smith Early Career Award and Best Practitioner Research from the DADD division of CEC. As principal investigator, she led a $737,900 U.S. Department of Education Javits grant studying interventions for twice-exceptional autism students and minority identification challenges.

Her work addresses intersectional issues of race, class, and autism, with publications exploring instructional methods for non-verbal students and systemic equity in special education.