Faculty | M.S. in Special Education
Denise Reid
- Associate Professor
- PhD., Chapman University
- Multiple Subject Credential, Hope International University
- M.A., Cal State Fullerton
- B.A., Cal Poly Pomona
Denise Reid has her Ph.D. from Chapman University, an M.S. from California State University, Fullerton, and a B.A. from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Reid holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and has decades of educational experience.Here experience includes facilitating the successful transition of high school students to post-secondary settings. Additionally, she...
Research Interests
- Exploring the Lived Experiences of Individuals who Attended, Taught, or Served as Administrators at All-Black Segregated Schools during Jim Crow
- Impact of Brown v. Board on Current Educational System
- Higher Education Policy Related to the Disclosure Process of Students with Disabilities Transition to Postsecondary Education for Students from Marginalized Groups
Tim Stranske
- Professor and Faculty Emeritus
- Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University
- M.A., Biola University
- B.A., Biola University
With more than 30 years in the Christian school movement, several years as a junior high and high school teacher and 28 years as an administrator, Tim Stranske has a wealth of experience in the education field. He was a principal, curriculum director and superintendent for four California Christian school systems. In addition, Stranske served Biola as an adjunct faculty member from 1982–87 and...
Nicholas Block
- Professor
- Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University
- M.Div., Fuller Theological Seminary
- B.A., Stanford University
After beginning his career in education as a science teacher in Bogotá, Colombia in 1984, Nick Block has worked most of his years in the U.S. as a public school teacher in grades three to five in a variety of language settings. At Biola, Block has taught since 2014 in the undergraduate, graduate, and Induction/Clear Credential programs. He has mainly taught courses in philosophy of education,...
Research Interests
- Dual-language Schools
- Vocabulary Development
- Spiritual Lives of Teachers
June Hetzel
- Adjunct Professor and Faculty Emerita
- Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University
- M.A., Talbot School of Theology
- M.S., California State University, Fullerton
- B.A., Biola University
Christie Curtis
- Professor
- Ph.D., Azusa Pacific University
- M.A., Biola University
- B.A., University of California, Riverside
A native Californian, Christie Curtis specializes in grammar and writing curriculum development. Her most recent book, Grammar and Writing 3 (piloted in 2015–16), was co-authored with Mary Hake and is one of six grammar and writing textbooks in their series. Utilizing her experiences as a former public and private school teacher, she has authored student editions, teacher editions and...
Research Interests
- Supporting international students
- Spirituality practices of international students
- Supporting post-traditional students
- Writing proficiency
Robin LaBarbera
- Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University
- M.A., Arizona State University
- M.A., Biola University
- B.S., National University
- B.A., California State University Long Beach
Robin LaBarbera, Ph.D., DSW, is faculty emerita in the School of Education at Biola University and president of LaBarbera Research & Evaluation. An interdisciplinary researcher and program evaluator, she partners with nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and faith-based ministries to measure outcomes, improve programs and document meaningful change in the lives of the people they...
Mickie Wong-Lo
- Director of Special Education
- Associate Professor
- Ph.D., University of North Texas
- M.Ed., University of Houston
- B.S., University of Houston
Mickie Wong-Lo is an associate professor and the Director of Special Education in the School of Education at Biola University. Dr. Wong-Lo, a board certified behavior analyst, completed her doctoral studies in special education with the emphasis in emotional and behavioral disorders and juvenile delinquency at the University of North Texas. Prior to entering the field of higher education, she...
Research Interests
- Cyberbullying: Behavior analysis in digital culture, peer relationships in social media
- Juvenile Delinquency: Gang crime analysis, violence in schools
- Mental Health: Trauma, resiliency in victimization
- Disproportionality: Over and underrepresentation
- Behavior Analysis: Behavioral assessment and function-based intervention