April Regester

April Regester is an Associate Professor and Assistant Department Chair in the Department of Educator Preparation and Leadership at the University of Missouri - St. Louis College of Education. She holds a PhD in Special Education, Disabilities & Risk Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara (2009), along with an M.A. in Special Education and a B.A. in Education. Her research focuses on autism, inclusive education, and social supports for individuals with severe disabilities, including work at the Koegel Autism Center.

Her teaching portfolio includes courses on behavior management, positive behavior supports, transition planning, and cross-categorical special education. She advises M.Ed. students and serves on doctoral dissertation committees. Key research interests include postsecondary education inclusion, parent collaboration during transition phases, and socialization interventions for adults with Asperger's syndrome.

Her recent publications emphasize dignity of risk in educational settings, barriers to parental involvement in transition planning, and program development for young adults with disabilities. Her work bridges applied behavior analysis with real-world educational practices.

Regester’s career includes a postdoctoral fellowship at the Eli Broad Asperger Research Center, demonstrating her deep engagement with autism research. She actively contributes to both academic discourse and practical educational strategies for inclusive environments.