Nikki Logan

Bio

Nikki is the coordinator of the special education program in the School of Education and a co-adviser for the UWSP Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC). She was a recipient of UWSP College of Professional Studies Tech Select Grant to integrate technology and community outreach into her courses; the University Excellence in Teaching Award; and the University Leadership Mentor Award. Nikki enjoys working with graduate students to help them accomplish their dream of earning a special education teaching license and collaborating with undergraduate students to conduct research and present/publish their findings.

Experience and Interests

Teaching Experience

• Professor, UW-Stevens Point (2023-present)
• Associate Professor, UW-Stevens Point (2019-present)
• Assistant Professor, UW-Stevens Point (2015-2019)
• Instructor, UW-Stevens Point (2013-2015)
• Instructor, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Green Bay, WI (2011-2013)

Research Interests

• University-School Clinical Experience Partnerships
• Graduate and Undergraduate Perceptions in College Courses
• Alternative Teacher Licensure Programs

Professional Experience

• Bilingual Special Education Teacher, Eisenhower School, Green Bay, WI (2008-2013)
• Special Education Teacher, Congress School, Milwaukee, WI (2007-2008)

Involvement

Campus

• Personnel Policy Handbook Committee Chair (2023-present)
• Graduate Leadership Committee (2023-present)
• SOE Scholarship Essay Reader (2015-present)
• Co-adviser of the student organization Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) (2013-present)
• Special Education Department Program Coordinator (2013-present)           

Community

• Marathon County Special Education Pre-Clinical Partnership (2022-present)
• School District of Waupaca Special Education Pre-Clinical Partnership (2021-present)
• UWSP Neale Fellowship Faculty Research and Development Collaborator with Kristine Doering, Pittsville School District Pittsville Public Schools Pottery Throw Project (2013-2014)

Professional Memberships

• Wisconsin Education Association Council (2021-present)

Presentations and Publications

Presentations

• Logan, N. (2024, May). Course (Re)Design Strategies to Reduce Barriers for Graduate Students. ITLC Lilly Evidence-Based Teaching & Learning Conference. Austin, Texas. 
• Logan, N., Beaulieu, S., Bueno, S., & Y. Li. (2023, November). University/District Partnerships to Prepare Future Rural Special Education Teachers. National Forum to Advance Rural Education 2023 Convention & Research Symposium. Chattanooga, Tennessee. 
• Bueno, S. & Logan, N. (2023, March). Graduates Perceived Preparation Upon Completion of an Accelerated Licensure Program. Council for Exceptional Children 2023 Convention and Expo, Louisville, Kentucky.
• Logan, N. & Bueno, S. (2023, March). What Teachers Should Know about eLearning for Students With Autism. Council for Exceptional Children 2023 Convention and Expo, Louisville, Kentucky.
• Logan, N., Garbe, A., Ogurlu, U., & Cook, P. (2021, April). Parental experiences with remote education during COVID-19 school closures in the Upper Midwest. Paper presented at the American Education Research Association Annual Virtual Meeting (AERA), April 9- 12, 2021. 
• Logan, N., Francsis, R., Merrill, S., & Dieckman, A. (2021, February). Rural Partnerships: Pathways to Change in Preservice Special Education. American Association of College for Teachers of Education (AACTE).

Publications

• Bueno, S., Ogurlu, U., Bardon, L., & Logan, N. (2024). When Parents of Children with Severe Autism Become Their Teachers: Unique Cases from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, 103, 116.
• Logan, N., Francsis, R., Merrill, S., & Dieckman, A. (2023). Helping with the Special Education Teacher Shortage in Rural Schools: A Teacher Preparation Program’s Journey. In J. Moore & L. Yoho. Expanding the Vision of Rurality in the US Educational System. (pp. 187-207). IGI. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-7437-2.ch010
• Wright, T., Logan, N., & Bueno, S. (2021) Enriching Undergraduate Level Courses to Meet the Needs of Graduate Students. College Student Journal.
• Logan, N., Ogurlu, U., Garbe, A., & Cook, P. (2021). COVID – Parent Voices: Suggestions for Remote Learning during COVID Pandemic and Beyond. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 8(4), 1-17. http://dx.doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/850

Awards

• 2022 UW-Stevens Point Excellence in Teaching Award
• 2022 University Leadership Mentor Award
• 2017 University Leadership Mentor Award
• 2017 Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society Honorary Faculty Inductee

Fun Facts

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

An ER doctor

One thing about your school that you are most proud of?

I love the sense of community and support I feel when I come to work. The people I work with truly love their job and love working at UWSP and it’s a positive, fun environment.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

I love seeing how much students grow in their understanding of special education and their philosophies and comfort level of educating students with special needs.

A piece of advice for students in your school?

Take on all that you can manage. Sign up and attend professional development. Work with children. Stay after class or come to office hours to talk to your professor. Build relationships with your peers. When life gets overwhelming, give yourself a break and take it one day at a time. You can do it.