Timothy Tansey

Timothy Tansey is a Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Education. His work focuses on vocational rehabilitation policies, disability inclusion in education, and mental health outcomes for marginalized populations. He holds a PhD in Rehabilitation Psychology from UW-Madison (2001), an MS in Rehabilitation from the University of Illinois (1998), and a BS in Psychology from the same institution (1994).

His research interests span disability policy, veteran employment, cultural competency in rehabilitation services, and the application of positive psychology frameworks (e.g., PERMA) to student well-being. He has published extensively on topics like SSI policy for transition-age youth, flourishing in student veterans, and motivational interviewing in counseling.

Dr. Tansey has received numerous awards, including the Researcher of the Year (2016) from the National Council on Rehabilitation Education and multiple top paper awards from the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association. His presentations address issues such as autism in the workforce, generational poverty intersections with disability, and knowledge translation mechanisms in rehabilitation practice.

His advising and grants include leadership in initiatives like the Wisconsin PROMISE project and collaborations with organizations like the Veteran’s Administration. He actively engages in policy discussions to improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities through evidence-based strategies.