INSTRUCTORS
To contact our course instructors directly, click on their emails.
KARI CHIASSON, Ed.D. - kari.chiasson@und.nodak.edu
Kari is a faculty member in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the University of North Dakota where she coordinates the Early Childhood Special Education and Visual Impairment programs. She brings over twenty years of experience working with young children who have special needs including ASD and their families. She also provides consultation services to childcare programs, early intervention programs, and the Region IV Right Track Program.
SHANNON GRAVE, M.Ed., LSW, BSSW - shannon.grave@und.nodak.edu
Shannon is presently completing her Master's degree in Special Education and has completed the coursework to attain certification in Autistic Spectrum Disorders from UND. She has an array of experiences in working with children from ages birth to 18 years of age with their families for the last 14 years. She works as a mental health practitioner, a mental health consultant to Head Start, and has worked in the field of Early Intervention with children birth to three years of age. She has served a number of families who have a child with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder, has attended many conferences from varying disciplines on the topic, and is further motivated by having a child who has a diagnosed ASD. She resides in rural Minnesota with her husband and two children.
KAREN HURLBUTT, Ph.D. - karen.hurlbutt@mnsu.edu
Dr. Karen Hurlbutt is an assistant professor of Special Education at MSU Mankato. She is the coordinator of the collaborative undergraduate Special Education: DCD program between MSU and Normandale Community College. She earned her PhD from the University of North Dakota in 2000. Her research and expertise lie in autism spectrum disorders and developmental-cognitive disabilities. Karen lives in St Peter, MN with her daughter Amanda, who attends MSU Mankato.
CAROL JOHNSON, Ph.D., M.S., SLP/CCC - caroljohnson@mail.und.nodak.edu
Carol is a faculty member in the Department of Teaching and Learning. She provides technical assistance to Early Intervention programs for young children with disabilities and their families. She is also the Region IV director of the Right Track Program. She has worked in the birth to three Early Intervention field for over 20 years, serving children who have an array of disabilities including ASD.
LORI KALASH, M. Ed. Lori.Kalash@sendit.nodak.edu
Lori is a 2nd grade teacher in Devils Lake, North Dakota. While teaching in a general education classroom, Lori has utilized many strategies to include students with disabilities. She brings to our courses experience working as a special education resource teacher. She also worked as an autism resource teacher for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Grand Forks Public School system. Throughout her time in Grand Forks, Lori consulted with many families in the community to help develop home programming and structure to the home environment. Lori also had the opportunity to attend training at Division TEACCH in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
CARMEN PECK, M.Ed. – carmen.peck@gfschools.org
Carmen is an autism resource teacher in a semi-self contained autism program in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She has worked in the field of special education for the past 10 years. Carmen attended training at Division TEACCH in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in the summer of 2002.
