Meet the Research Team
Kimber Wilkerson, Ph.D.
Kimber Wilkerson is a professor of Special Education in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Principal Investigator of Project ACRES. She has broad expertise in the preparation of teachers to provide instruction to students with disabilities to improve their long-term academic and social/behavioral outcomes. She also directs a residency program in collaboration with Milwaukee Public Schools, funded by a Teacher Quality Partnership grant.
Melinda Leko, Ph.D.
Melinda Leko is a Professor in the School of Special Education, School Psychology, and Early Childhood Studies at the University of Florida. Her areas of research focus on (a) educator preparation to promote and support inclusive and equitable educational experiences for learners with disabilities, (b) educators’ implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs), and (c) literacy instruction for students with disabilities.
Andrea Ruppar, Ph.D.
Andrea Ruppar is an Associate Professor of Special Education in the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education. Her research focuses on decision making among special education teachers and other professionals, especially related to students with significant disabilities.
Rebekka Olsen, Ph.D.
Rebekka Olsen is the Project Coordinator for Project ACRES. She has extensive experience leading organizational development and innovation projects. She specializes in wide-scale project leadership, implementation, and scale-up within diverse educational contexts.