ISET Fellows

Michael Kim, M.Ed., is a fourth-year doctoral student at the University of Massachusetts Boston, specializing in early childhood education and care. His current research focuses on the integration of technology in early childhood education, with a particular interest in how robotics and Virtual Reality (VR) can enhance young students’ social development. He is currently also exploring how gaming-based learning can promote young children’s social and emotional development. As a qualitative researcher, Michael is exploring various aspects of special education technology as he navigates his dissertation. With a background as a first-grade teacher in a public school, Michael now serves as a graduate research assistant, collaborating with fellow researchers on projects related to early childhood and special education technology. In addition to his research, he teaches undergraduate courses in early childhood education and offers consultations and workshops to help students prepare for the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL). Michael is excited to be an ISET Fellow for 2024-2025, looking forward to expanding his professional network, honing his research skills, and advancing inclusive technology solutions for young children, their families, and educators.

Lauryn M. Castro, M.A. CCC-SLP, is a second-year doctoral student in Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching specializing in Special Education at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She serves as a graduate research assistant on a project examining and piloting assistive technologies for students who are blind or visually impaired to make computer programming instruction more accessible. She is a funded scholar through the National Science Foundation’s Research on Emerging Technologies for Teaching and Learning (RETTL) program. Her research interests include leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning models to enhance augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), cultural and identity-affirming practices, and culturally and linguistically diverse exceptional learners. She is excited to be an ISET Fellow for the 2024-2025 year and looks forward to learning more about technological advances and their impact on special education technology.

Roba Hrisseh, M.Ed., is an ASPIRE OSEP scholar and third year doctoral candidate at George Mason University. Roba has worked in special education for over ten years in various settings such as charter, public, nonprofit, and in private settings primarily as an assistive technology specialist. Roba’s focus within the PhD program is on assistive technology and computer science instruction for students with disabilities. Roba is currently collecting data for her dissertation study, which focuses on integrating computer science and writing instruction for upper elementary students with disabilities. Additionally, she currently works as a graduate research assistant for a research project on using a technology-based graphic organizer to teach persuasive writing skills. Furthermore, Roba is teaching undergraduate courses in special education at George Mason University. Roba is thrilled to be an ISET Fellow for the 2023-2024 year, hoping to continue promoting the use of technology for students with disabilities.

Alice Williams, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a RAISE OSEP scholar and doctoral candidate at Florida State University. Alice was a Speech-Language Pathologist for five years before becoming a self-contained classroom teacher of students with extensive support needs. Alice taught at an elementary school for nine years before returning to school to pursue her doctorate. Her research focuses on evidence-based practices for teaching reading to students with extensive support needs, specifically those students with complex communication needs who use augmentative and alternative communication. As an ISET fellow, Alice is excited for the opportunity to help work towards closing the research to practice gap by sharing evidence based techniques with practitioners and educators related to technology.

Melissa Defayette, M. Ed., is a teaching and research graduate assistant entering her 3rd year as a Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland, College Park. Melissa has seven years of practical experience teaching students with disabilities in Maryland. Her research interests involve inclusion in core academic content areas using evidence-based practices for students with moderate to severe intellectual/developmental disabilities (MSIDD), creating inclusive classrooms for students who use AAC, changing new teacher preparation policies, and influencing state or national special education policy. She believes that using technology in inclusive classrooms provides educators the opportunity to create and implement inclusion for diverse learners.

Reagan Murnan, M.Ed., is an ASPIRE scholar and doctoral candidate who taught middle school students with high-incidence disabilities in a suburban school in Loudoun County, Virginia. She also served as her school’s special education department chair. Her major Ph.D. research interests at George Mason University involve writing interventions, incorporating writing evidence-based practices into instruction for teacher candidates, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles that can leverage student access to texts, identity development, and activism. Currently, Reagan is co-authoring a manuscript titled, Breaking Down Barriers to Representation in Adolescent Texts. She is also participating in research on a writing intervention involving a technology-based graphic organizer that also involves teacher professional development centered on data-driven decision-making. She is collaborating with a colleague on a DisCrit content analysis that will also produce a practitioner-friendly avenue for promoting social justice. Reagan is thrilled to be selected as an ISET scholar and is privileged to help provide technology-based solutions to educators, students, and parents to promote equity and access.