Shalinie Sarju

Shalinie Sarju is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Exceptional Education & Learning at SUNY Old Westbury's School of Education. She holds a BA in Speech Language Pathology/Audiology from Hofstra University, an MS in Early Childhood/Special Education from Hofstra, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Molloy University. Her research focuses on critical disability theory, qualitative methodologies, and student agency among marginalized learners.

Dr. Sarju teaches courses including 'The Exceptional Learner', 'Assessment for Students with Exceptionalities', and 'Inclusive Classroom Management'. She holds certifications in NYS Special Education (B-12) and Childhood Education (1-6). Her work bridges educational equity and systemic dis/ableism, with recent publications exploring intersectional approaches to community mental wellness through theatre and critical phenomenological studies.

Active in professional development, she presented at SUNY Old Westbury's Student Teachers’ Professional Development Day (2023) and the World Education Research Association (2021). Her 2017 collaboration on behavioral intervention strategies at NYU's Technical Assistance Center highlighted arts-based solutions to educational disparities.