ELRT professor appears on “A World of Difference” to discuss transition to college
Nov. 15, 2021
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Dr. Wanda Hadley, Associate Professor of higher education leadership in the Department of Educational Leadership, Research and Technology recently appeared on “” to discuss when 鶹ýs with learning disabilities are ready to transition to college. An extended “” segment is also available. The show is produced by Beacon College, the first accredited college in America that focuses on graduating 鶹ýs with learning disabilities.
Dr. Hadley focuses her research on the academic adjustment issues first-year 鶹ýs with learning disabilities experience in their transition to college through the lens of 鶹ý development theory. She has an extensive publication record of refereed monographs, book chapters, and articles about college 鶹ýs with learning disabilities. “This topic is important because for the last 20 plus years, 鶹ýs with disabilities, specifically learning disabilities, have been the fastest growing population enrolling in colleges and universities, but their persistence to graduation has been low,” explained Dr. Hadley.
As a new faculty on campus in the fall of 2014, Dr. Hadley developed a special topics course about 鶹ýs with learning disabilities transitioning to college that education leadership masters’ and doctoral 鶹ýs can take as an elective in their program of study. She also teaches a course about higher education law where Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act are featured and shares her research experience during doctoral seminar courses. She encourages her 鶹ýs, whom are often practitioners that interact with 鶹ýs, to support 鶹ýs with learning disabilities as they transition to the college environment. “I try to make sure they understand the importance of helping that 鶹ý population feel welcome and included in the campus culture.”
Dr. Hadley was recognized by the American College Personnel Association as one of the 25 scholars in the United States conducting research about college 鶹ýs with learning disabilities and received the 2017 American College Personnel Association's Leadership Award for her research and scholarship about college 鶹ýs with learning disabilities.