Erica Lembke

Erica Lembke is a Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Missouri, College of Education. She is a Senior Advisor for the National Center on Intensive Intervention, past-president of the Division for Learning Disabilities, and former editor of Assessment for Effective Intervention. She previously served as department chair for five years and interim dean for 1.5 years.

Her research focuses on data-based instruction and decision making, developing and implementing Curriculum-Based Measurement tools in mathematics, writing, science, and social studies. She leads and co-leads multiple federally funded research projects aimed at improving academic outcomes for students with learning disabilities.

• Principal Investigator on an IES grant examining middle school mathematics support
• Co-PI on an OSEP leadership grant (LIME), an MTSS network grant, and an EIR grant replicating Fraction Face-Off
• Lead on donor-funded initiatives including the Aslin Early Reading Initiative and the PAWS inclusive post-secondary program

Her work emphasizes evidence-based interventions, teacher coaching, and scalable assessment systems. She leads the Lembke Research Group and collaborates nationally on projects related to MTSS fidelity (IMFR), early writing, and algebra readiness (STAIR).

Dr. Lembke has made significant contributions to the field through her research, service, and leadership. She mentors future faculty through the LIME project and supports inclusive education at the post-secondary level. Her work bridges research and practice, aiming to improve outcomes for struggling learners across K–12 and higher education settings.