Melissa Jessup

Department Chair, Director of Special Education, Assistant Professor of Education

I Serve in...

Education Department

Education

• EdD, Special Education, Ball State University
• Educational Administrator's License, Educational Administration, Ball State University
• MA, Special Education: Mild Disabilities, Ball State University
• BA, Elementary Education and Special Education, Idaho State University

Career Accomplishments

• Public school educator for 24 years
• Completed doctorate in December 2019
• Joined Taylor in the fall of 2018 as an assistant professor of education teaching early literacy courses. In 2019 I moved into the role of Director of Special Education. I now serve in that role as well as the chair of the Department of Education.
• In the spring of 2022, I took an exploratory trip to Northern Ireland to visit potential partnership schools.
• In the spring of 2023, I presented at the National Council for Exceptional Children conference with two undergraduate students with five additional students attending the conference.
• Facilitating scholarship and participating in the growth of learners, regardless of their age, will always be my greatest career accomplishment.

Featured Work

Presentations

• Presented at the National Council for Exceptional Children Conference (Louisville, Kentucky): Unified Robotics: A Collaboration Between Disciplines & Community Partners to Empower an Inclusive STEM Experience (2023)
• Presented at the Original Lilly Conference on College Teaching (Miami, Ohio): Working on the Privilege Chain Gang (2022)
• Presented at the Midwest Spring ATE Conference (Normal, Illinois): Discussion of Text Revisited: Updated Support for an Established Practice (2022)
• Presented with colleagues a faculty development session on Student Engagement (2022)
• Presented a session on UDL for New Faculty Orientation (2022)
• Presented with colleagues a faculty development session on Active Learning Strategies to Engage College Students (2022)
• Facilitated a session for Colleague’s College: The Power of Vulnerability (2021)
• Led a session for Colleague’s College: Building Resilience for Students with Disabilities (2021)

Research

• Implementation Grant: Advancing the Science of Reading in Indiana (in process)
• Disability Awareness and the Impact of Inclusive Experiences: Unified Robotics: A Collaboration Between Disciplines & Community Partners to Empower an Inclusive STEM Experience (in process)
• Dissertation: For the Love of Reading: The Impact of Engagement Factors on Reading Proficiency (2019)
• Pilot Study: Transition of Young Children from Preschool to Kindergarten (Fall 2017)

Biography

The opportunity to combine my two greatest passions, my faith and teaching, with students who strive for excellence in all areas of their lives is a privilege and a blessing. Having been both a spouse of a Taylor faculty member and a parent of two Taylor graduates, it is a privilege to be a faculty member at Taylor University investing in the lives of our students.

Hobbies

I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, traveling, and working in my flower gardens. When I have opportunities to travel with my entire family, it brings me much joy!