She is a recent graduate of the University of California, Riverside, where she earned her Ph.D. in special education. Vanessa has been an adjunct faculty member teaching special education teachers for nine years, in addition to her classroom and administrative work in Southern California K-12 schools with students with special needs over the past 15 years. Vanessa’s research interests include interventions for struggling older readers, vocational education and transition services, teacher per-service and in-service education, and the effects of high-stakes testing on students with special needs. Vanessa has had a busy year! Shortly after graduating this summer and beginning the 2011-2012 academic year at CSUN, she was married on September 4th. Having had a very exciting few months, Vanessa is ready to jump into her work here at CSUN!