Kathleen Gradel

Dr. Kathleen Gradel is Professor in the College of Education at the State University of New York at Fredonia. With more than four decades of experience, she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in special education, literacy, technology, and action research, while also serving as Interim Director of Sponsored Programs.

Education

• Ed.D., University of Virginia

Research & Teaching Interests

Dr. Gradel’s scholarship centers on inclusive classroom practices that foster success for P-12 students with learning needs, technology-enhanced instruction for both K-12 and higher-education faculty, and early-college success strategies. Her teaching portfolio spans educational foundations, differentiated instruction, classroom motivation, digital productivity, and action research.

Grants & Initiatives

She has directed multiple externally funded professional-development grants in partnership with regional school districts, co-developed two Master’s preparation programs for Buffalo State College, and pioneered blended/online AP course offerings via Erie2 BOCES. Recently, she designed a suite of on-demand micro-courses for online faculty, complete with a micro-credentialing (digital badging) infrastructure.

Awards & Honors

• SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
• SUNY FACT2 Award for Excellence in Instruction (2016)

Service & Leadership

Dr. Gradel is a long-standing co-advisor for the Kappa Delta Pi International Education Honor Society, former Chair of Fredonia’s Planning & Budget Committee, and OpenSUNY Online Learning Ambassador. She co-moderates the Western New York Google Educator Group, serves on statewide technology initiatives, and acts as an external evaluator for emerging SUNY online programs.