Jennifer Hurley

Jennifer Hurley is an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Special Education at the University of Vermont's College of Education and Social Services. She holds a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University and an M.A.T. from Trinity University. Her work focuses on early intervention for marginalized populations, including refugees and families experiencing homelessness. She has received significant federal funding through the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), including a $1.25M grant for interprofessional education (IPE) projects (2019-2024).

Dr. Hurley's research emphasizes cultural and linguistic diversity in special education, with a focus on adapting early childhood programs for refugee and homeless communities. She has developed innovative teacher preparation programs addressing the unique needs of children with disabilities in these contexts. Her grants include a 2013-2018 initiative preparing undergraduate early interventionists and a 2009-2014 master's-level program for special educators, totaling over $2M in OSEP funding.

• Awards:
  • Joseph A. Abruscato Award for Excellence in Research (2015)
  • Joan Bordon Award for Parent Contributions (2016)
  • Education Alliance Fellow at Brown University (2010-2012)

Her advising and grant activities include serving as Principal Investigator (PI) on multiple OSEP grants. Recent research explores how teacher training programs can better equip educators to address intersectional challenges faced by refugee and homeless children with disabilities. She also investigates effective collaboration models during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings in multicultural contexts.

Dr. Hurley's work is conducted through interdisciplinary teams, reflecting her commitment to interprofessional education. She collaborates with community organizations to implement evidence-based practices in real-world settings, emphasizing practical solutions for systemic barriers in early childhood education.