Mentors
From doctoral advisors to innovative colleagues, Stephanie credits her mentors for where she is today. When she needed them most, they have been essential role models, professional guides, and valued friends. And that includes her OG mentor: Mom.
A professor emerita at Georgia State University, Dr. Easterbrooks is a quiet force of nature, an intellectual powerhouse, and author of a book on Ela Ghandi. Stephanie is honored to serve with her on the Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education editorial board and is incredibly humbled to recently co-author a book chapter with her.
A former UT Austin colleague of Stephanie, Dr. Barnes is Professor of Special Education at Vanderbilt University, where she conducts research on cognitive processes and learning difficulties and disabilities. She is the co-author of a widely-used book on learning disability identification, assessment, and intervention.
Stephanie’s doctoral advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is now the Director of the MIND Institute at the University of California-Davis and an expert on language development. He has authored several books, including Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Educational Psychology and Guide to Human Development for Future Educators.
As Senior Managing Director at WestEd, Rorie leads teams in Special Education Policy & Practice and Resource Planning. She also serves as Director of the National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI), one of the largest technical assistance investments of the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education.
Penelope Washbourn, PhD
Stephanie’s dear mother (at left) has been her lifelong source of inspiration, strength, and spirit. Now retired as Professor at Saint Mary’s College of California, she is currently active in the American Association of University Women Alameda (CA) Chapter, fighting for education and equity for women and girls.
Currently the Dean of the College of Humanities and Professor of Psychology at North Carolina State University, Dr. Braden was Stephanie’s doctoral advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focus is on assessment, deafness and cognition, and assessment of students with disabilities.