Special education: Collective influencers and positive disruptors

By Michelle Strickland

Lisa Dieker is the Williamson Family Distinguished Professor of Special Education in the School of Education & Human Sciences at the University of Kansas. She serves as the Director of the FLITE Center (Flexible Learning through Innovations in Teaching and Education), in the Assessment and Achievement Institute at KU. KU’s Special Education program is ranked No. 1 among public universities in the nation. It’s that ranking that draws quality faculty, who continue to build the program and attract high-achieving graduate and undergraduate students. Dieker says endowing faculty positions gives faculty members the benefit of time to think, dream and expand on the possibilities in education.