UF appoints education professor as associate dean of graduate school

Vivian Correa, professor and former chair of special education at the University of Florida College of Education, has been named associate dean of the university’s graduate school. The school coordinates more than 200 graduate programs of UF’s various colleges and divisions.

Correa has been on the UF education faculty since 1985 and was the chair of special education in 1996-99. She occupied a one-year endowed chair at California State University at Los Angeles in 2000-01. She has extensive experience as a program administrator and project director and is principal investigator on a U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs leadership grant that prepares doctoral level students in early childhood special education and school psychology.

“Dr. Correa possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience in minority affairs, grant writing and administration,” said Ken Gerhardt, interim dean of the UF Graduate School. “She will oversee the Office of Graduate Minority Programs, chair the Graduate Curriculum Committee and write and administer granted intended to recruit, retain and place underrepresented and minority graduate students in all disciplines.”

A native Puerto Rican, Correa has worked extensively with culturally diverse children and their families. Her areas of expertise include early childhood special education, bilingual special education, and collaboration and teaming. She is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Correa has a Ph.D. degree in early childhood special education from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. She earned master’s and bachelor’s degrees in special education from the University of Georgia and Georgia State University, respectively.

Correa will continue her teaching and research duties in the College of Education while holding her new administrative post.