Mary K. Requa

Mary K. Requa is an Associate Professor and Mild Moderate Support Needs Program Coordinator in the Department of Special Education at San Francisco State University, teaching courses on understanding, assessing, and instructing individuals with mild/moderate support needs for successful learning outcomes across age groups.

Education:

• PhD in Special Education, University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco State University, 2017
• Educational Therapy, University of California, Berkeley, 2005
• California Elementary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, California State University, Los Angeles, 1978
• B.A. in Liberal Studies, Loyola Marymount University, 1977

Research Interests: Dr. Requa's work centers on early literacy development, teacher preparation frameworks, family-school partnerships, and evidence-based instructional strategies for exceptional learners. Her research bridges theoretical foundations with classroom applications, emphasizing practical interventions for diverse educational settings.

Publication Trends: Her recent scholarship demonstrates consistent focus on vocabulary acquisition in early childhood ('Big Words for Little People'), teacher credentialing barriers (RICA), and cross-disciplinary collaboration between special/general education. Publications reveal methodological diversity spanning qualitative classroom studies, parent-coaching interventions, and assessment innovations.

Scientific Awards:

• Sujata Krishna Fellowship for Research in Early Childhood Development (2015-2016)
• Graduate School of Education Fellowship Award (2015-2016)
• Dyslexia Award from UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education (2012-2015)

Grants and Advising: Current projects include an NSF-funded AI platform for neurodiverse engineering students (2024) and culturally responsive lesson design research (2023 Dean's Award). Previously secured funding includes CEEDAR Center grants (2018-2019) and Presidential Professional Development support (2019-2020). Her advising integrates research mentorship with pre-service teacher development through structured field experiences.