Rate My Professor Jennifer Madigan

Jennifer Madigan, Ed.D., serves as a lecturer in the College of Education, Department of Special Education at San Jose State University. From 2002 to 2018, she was a professor in the Department of Special Education at the same institution, where she coordinated the Mild to Moderate Disabilities Program, taught courses in educational psychology, assessment, theories for second language learners, exceptionality, directed student teaching, and social studies curriculum, and supervised students in K-12 classrooms. She also held the position of assistant professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Hawaii Manoa from 2016 to 2020, teaching courses such as SPED 445, SPED 404, and SPED 613, and developing hybrid online modules. Earlier in her career, Dr. Madigan served as adjunct professor at institutions including CSU Monterey Bay, Hunter College, and University of San Francisco, and as assistant professor in elementary education at Bethany College. She began her professional journey as a special education teacher at the San Mateo County Office of Education from 1989 to 1995, implementing instruction for K-12 students with various disabilities and promoting inclusion programs.

Dr. Madigan earned her Ed.D. in Learning and Instruction with a minor in Special Education from the University of San Francisco in 2003, M.A. in Teaching Arts from Notre Dame de Namur University in 1982, and B.A. in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 1980. Her research specializes in the inclusion of children with special needs in general education settings and the effects of single-gender special education for female students identified with mild to moderate disabilities. Key publications include the book Mentorship of Special Educators (Corwin Press, 2011, co-authored with Georganne Scroth-Cavataio) and peer-reviewed articles such as "Support for the beginning special educator through high quality mentoring" (National Teacher Education Journal, 2012), "IDEIA 2004: Building collaborative partnerships and effective communication" (Principal Leadership, 2011), "The education of women and girls in the United States: A historical perspective" (Advances in Gender and Education, 2009), and "The intersection of gender, race, and disability: Latina students in special education" (Multiple Voices, 2005). She has received awards including Fulbright Specialist (2016-2021), San Jose State University Foundation Early Career Investigator Award (2004-2005), Project LASER Senior Research Associate Grant ($15,000, 2004-2005), and multiple other grants and fellowships such as OSERS Leadership Grants and Doctoral Fellowships.