susan johnson
Susan
Johnson
Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Hirt 300D
sjohnson2@mercyhurst.edu
814-824-3370

Susan D. Johnson, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Special Education at Mercyhurst University and Director of Undergraduate Education. Her primary teaching areas are in high and low incidence disabilities, family and community relationships in education, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Prior to teaching at Mercyhurst, Dr. Johnson was employed for 15 years as a public school and private agency speech/language therapist and special education teacher. She has been at Mercyhurst since 2010.

Dr. Johnson specializes in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders, emotional and behavioral disorders of children, and function-based interventions in natural environments. Her scholarly interests coalesce around instructional design and development of pedagogical best practices for students with severe disabilities, in addition to, analyzing the link between delinquency and disability in the juvenile justice system.  Her state and national level presentations have addressed using diverse clinical experiences to transform teacher education and literacy instruction for students with severe disabilities.  

Dr. Johnson prides herself on being a master teacher who is passionate about preparing students for excellence, in and out of the classroom.  She has established University-to-school partnerships with some of the area’s most at-risk school communities and seeks to develop capacity for leadership in both undergraduate and graduate student populations.   

Education

  • Ph.D., Organizational Learning & Leadership, Gannon University, Dissertation title: “A Phenomenological Study of Pre-service Teacher Perceptions of Children in Poverty and Families who are Poor”    
  • M.S. Ed., Special Education, St. Bonaventure University, Thesis:  “Facilitating and Increasing Turn-taking Skills in Children with Autism Using Neurotypical Peers as Models for Communication”
  • B.S. Ed., Speech Pathology and Audiology, State University of New York at Fredonia                  

Courses Taught

  • ECSP 305: Family & Community Relationships in Education
  • ESPE 101: Psychology of Diverse Learners
  • ESPE 305: Low Incidence Disabilities: Effective Instructional Practices
  • ESPE 306: Low Incidence Disabilities: Clinical Experience
  • ESPE 307: High Incidence Disabilities: Instructional Practices
  • ESPE 308: High Incidence Disabilities: Clinical Experience 
  • EDSP 540: Introduction to Autism
  • EDSP 521: Psychology of Diverse Learners 7-12 (online instruction)
  • EDSP 522: Inclusive Practices 7-12 (online instruction)

Recent Publications and Presentations

  • Johnson, Susan D. in Lozar Glenn, Joanne M. (2018). Creating a safe learning environment: Perspectives on bullying intervention and prevention. Business Education Forum, 72(3), 22-31. 
  • 17th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Education                                                
    • 2019
    • Honolulu, Hawaii
    • Presentation title: A Phenomenological Study of Pre-service Teacher Perceptions of Children in Poverty and Families who are Poor
  • BRIDGES Partners for Connections in Education                                                      
    • 2018
    • Cape May, NJ
    • Presentation title: Transforming the Field of Special Education Through the Redesign of the Pre-Service Teacher Early Clinical Experience
  • 16th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Education                                              
    • 2018
    • Honolulu, Hawaii
    • Presentation title: Poverty Perceptions of Pre-Service Teachers Before and After an International Service Learning Outreach 
  • Pennsylvania Association of College and Teacher Educators                                                                           
    • 2017
    • 46th Annual Teacher Education Assembly
    • Harrisburg, PA
    • Presentation title: Teaching Out of the Box and Out of the Classroom:  Preparing Pre-Service Teachers for Reaching Individuals who are Culturally Diverse through Meaningful Service Learning Opportunities
    • Research poster title: Poverty Perceptions of Pre-Service Teachers Before and After an International Service Learning Outreach
  • BRIDGES Partners for Connections in Education                                                                 
    • 2017
    • Cape May, NJ
    • Presentation title: Mercyhurst University & Erie's Public Schools: Multiple Partnerships with Maximum Impact
    • Co-presenter: Dr. Leanne Roberts
  • 44th Annual Western Pennsylvania Undergraduate Psychology Conference                                                          
    • 2016
    • Gannon University, Erie PA
    • Mooney-Ryan, M., Johnson, S., and Weaver M.T.
    • Paper title: The Effects of Music on the Direct Measures of Impulsivity in Adolescent Males with Severe Behavior and Emotional Disturbances
  • Pennsylvania Association of College and Teacher Educators 
    • 2016                                                                              
    • Annual Teacher Education Assembly 
    • Harrisburg, PA 
    • Presentation title:  Developing Pre-Service Teachers’ Capacity for Collaborative Leadership: Peer-to-Peer Feedback in Clinical Placements 
  • VSA Intersections: Arts and Special Education Conference                                      
    • 2016
    • Department of VSA and Accessibility at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts  
    • Pittsburgh, PA 
    • Presentation title: Gaining Access through Arts Integration: Literacy Instructions for Students with Severe Disabilities 
    • Student co-presenters: Katherine Brittner, Kaleigh Ruggerio, Elizabeth Stuehr, Kelsey Wilson, Jacob Washabaugh  
  • Athens Institute for Education and Research                          
    • 2016 
    • 18th Annual International Conference on Education 
    • Athens, Greece 
    • Presentation title: Developing Pre-Service Teachers’ Capacity for Collaborative Leadership: Peer-to-Peer Coaching in Clinical Experiences

Grants and External Funding

  • Awarding agency: Pennsylvania Department of Education
    • PASmart Advancing Grant
    • “STEM & vine” Afterschool Programming and Community Engagement (2021-2023)
    • Award: $500,000
    • Role: Primary Investigator
  • Federal Awarding Agency: U.S. Department of Education
    • 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Cohort 10 (2019-2024)
    • Mercyhurst Early Learning Innovation Academy (MELIA)
    • Award: $3,000,000
    • Role: Primary Investigator
  • Federal Awarding Agency: U.S. Department of Education
    • 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Cohort 10 (2019-2024)
    • Carpe Diem Academy 
    • Award: $2,000,000
    • Role: Grant Writer