معرفی
Stephen Kwiatek is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling at Utah State University (USU), part of the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services. His work focuses on preparing students with disabilities for equitable postschool outcomes through three core research strands: general education involvement in college/career readiness, evidence-based practices for postschool success, and interagency collaboration. He holds a PhD in Special Education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (2021) and prior degrees from Illinois State University.
Education:
- PhD, Special Education, University of North Carolina at Charlotte (2021)
- MS, Special Education, Illinois State University (2017)
- BS, Special Education, Illinois State University (2012)
- Additional certifications: Quantitative Analyses (UNC Charlotte, 2021), Behavior Intervention (Illinois State, 2017), etc.
Research Interests: Dr. Kwiatek’s research emphasizes technology-driven interventions (e.g., the Goal-Setting Challenge App), legislative impacts on educational equity, and fostering partnerships between schools, service providers, and families. He advocates for systemic changes to improve transitions to adulthood for students with disabilities.
Awards:
- 2025: Faculty Mentor of the Year (Special Education Undergraduate Research)
- 2025: Undergraduate Teacher of the Year
- 2023: Multiple mentoring and teaching fellow awards
- 2022: Patricia L. Sitlington Emerging Research Award
Advising & Grants: While no specific student names are listed, Dr. Kwiatek mentors undergraduate researchers and actively engages in grants/projects like Aggies Elevated, ASSERT (Autism Support Services), and the National Resource Center for Paraeducators. His work often involves interagency initiatives such as the CIRCLES program.
Labs/Teams: Involved in initiatives including the Utah Behavior Support Clinic and the Multidisciplinary Doctoral Program in Evidence-based Practice.
