Joseph Calvin Gagnon

Joseph Calvin Gagnon (Brojomohun-Gagnon), Ph.D., is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Special Education at Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Gagnon holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Special Education from the University of Maryland at College Park and the University of Colorado at Denver, respectively, and a B.S. in Education from the University of Vermont. Prior to his position at FAU, Gagnon was a professor of special pedagogy at the University of Helsinki and a tenured faculty member in the Department of Special Education at the University of Florida. Additionally, he was a Fulbright Scholar in the Republic of South Africa.

Dr. Gagnon has published extensively in the area of special education and has worked and advocated for the needs and rights of people with exceptionalities. His research focuses on ensuring youth at the greatest risk for educational, behavioral, and social failure are provided the supports necessary for long-term success in school and society. He addresses the needs of youth with emotional disturbance and learning disabilities within inclusive settings, as well as those who are incarcerated or in day treatment/residential education and treatment settings. Topical areas of his research include: (a) school-level policies (e.g., curriculum, assessment, and accountability); (b) mathematics and reading instruction; and (c) mental health and behavioral supports. To date, Dr. Gagnon has received over 2.5 million US dollars in funding to support his research.

Dr. Gagnon also has a variety of teaching experiences, including serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco and over a decade of teaching in inclusive settings, day treatment and residential psychiatric schools, and in a charter school for students identified as gifted and talented.

Dr. Gagnon also provides service to the field and works as an advocate for marginalized youth. He has served as Court Monitor and/or Special Education expert on 28 lawsuits, including seven for the U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Civil Rights. He has also lectured and conducted training sessions across the U.S. and in 15 countries including Thailand, Egypt, Finland, China, Venezuela, South Africa, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.

Key Words: Special Education, Behavioral Disorders, Evidence-Based Instruction, Classroom Management, Juvenile Corrections