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Faculty Tessa Nelson-Neigum

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Tessa Nelson-Neigum 

Clinical Assistant Professor

Tessa Nelson-Neigum

Email

tessa.neigum@ufl.edu

Address

Norman Hall,
PO Box 117040,
Gainesville, FL 32611

About

Tessa Nelson-Neigum is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Special Education in the School of Special Education, School Psychology, & Early Childhood Studies within the College of Education at the University of Florida. Her research focuses on family engagement in rural special education contexts, teacher residency and preparation models, virtual coaching, and supporting early-career special educators. She has extensive experience managing multi-million-dollar teacher quality partnership grants, developing online communities of practice, and integrating high-leverage practices to support educators and students with emotional and behavioral disabilities.

Affiliations

  • School of Special Education School Psychology and Early Childhood Studies

Research Interests

Family Engagement, Inclusive Education, Mixed Methods, Professional Development, Rural Education, Special Education, Teacher Education

Education

  • Ph.D. in Special Education (Minor: Comparative and International Education), University of Wisconsin-Madison (2026)
  • M.Ed. in Professional Development in Education, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (2012)
  • B.S. in Special Education and Teaching (Emphasis: Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities), University of Wisconsin-Madison (2009)

Professional Appointments

  • Graduate Assistant (SPDG, Project ACRES, TRP, UW-SET), University of Wisconsin-Madison (2022–Current)
  • Grant Manager (UW-SET), Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2019–2022)
  • Program Director, WE International, Inc., Madison, WI (2019–2022)
  • District-wide Behavior Coach, Waunakee School District, WI (2015–2017)
  • Director of Pupil Services, Evansville Community School District, WI (2014–2015)
  • Special Education Teacher, Dane County, WI and Rock County, WI (2009–2014)

Activities and Honors

  • Global Engagement Office Hartzman International Travel Award (2025)
  • Global Engagement Office Seed Funding Recipient (2023)
  • UW-Madison Graduate School Student Research Grants Competition Recipient (2023)
  • UW-Madison Graduate School Fellowship Recipient (2022–2023)

Selected Publications

Articles

  • Carter, E. W., Pettit, M., Maddox, K., Westover, A., Le Shana, J. L., & Nelson-Neigum, T. (2025). Advancing accessible worship: Perspectives of disability ministry leaders. Journal of Disability & Religion.
  • Nelson, T. (2013). Teacher Insights. In A New Way of Thinking, A Guide for Students with Disabilities to Develop Self Advocacy Skills. Essay, Publication Sales: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Presentations

  • Nelson-Neigum, T. (2025, July). Navigating Family Engagement: Early-Career Rural Special Education Teachers' Perspectives [Research Presentation]. CEC Division of International Special Education and Services (DISES) Annual International Conference, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Wilkerson, K. L., Olsen, R., & Nelson-Neigum, T. (2025, February). Recruiting and retaining special educators: Strategies from residency programs [Case Story Session]. American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) Annual Conference, Long Beach, CA.
  • Leko, M., Nelson-Neigum, T., Liu, S., & Hinojosa, A. (2024, November). Virtual coaching for rural emergency certified and early career special educators: Project development, implementation, and evaluation [Paper Session]. Council for Exceptional Children Teacher Education Division (TED) Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Nelson-Neigum, T. (2024, September). Community Asset Mapping [Virtual Presentation]. Council for Exceptional Children Division of International Special Education and Services (DISES) Research Showcase.
  • Nelson-Neigum, T. (2023, May). A review of the literature on community asset mapping [Presentation]. Institute of Theology and Disability Annual Meeting, Baylor University.
  • Wilkerson, K. L., Neigum-Nelson, T., Sikora, E., Zepp, L., & Leko, M. (2022, March). Partnering with high need districts through a special education teacher residency program [Paper Session]. American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
  • Nelson-Neigum, T. (2021, November). Partnering with Rural School Districts: Strategies, Recruitment, and Design [Virtual Panel]. American Council of Rural Special Education (ACRES).
  • Nelson-Neigum, T., & Sikora, E. (2021, November). Partnering with high needs districts through a special education teacher residency program [Presentation]. Wisconsin Rural School Alliance (WiRSA) Annual Meeting.