2024 Meyen Lecture on special education to feature Glenna Wright-Gallo
LAWRENCE - The Department of Special Education will welcome Glenna Wright-Gallo, Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, to present the Edward L. Meyen Distinguished Lecture Series.
The 2024 event begins with a casual reception at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 12th at The Oread hotel in the Hearth Room and Presidential Ballroom, with the formal lecture to follow shortly after. The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to attend.
Jennifer Kurth, chair and professor in the Department of Special Education at KU, said: “We are thrilled to have Glenna Wright Gallo come to KU. With her extensive experience and focus on improving outcomes and raising expectations for the nation’s 7.6 million students who receive special education services, her talk promises to offer invaluable insights. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain an invaluable perspective from a leading voice in the field of special education!”
Wright-Gallo is the assistant secretary in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the United States Department of Education. In this capacity, she serves as advisor to the U.S. secretary of education on matters related to the education of children and youth with disabilities, as well as employment and community living for youth and adults with disabilities. The mission of her office is to improve early childhood, educational, and employment outcomes, and to raise expectations for all people with disabilities, their families, their communities, and the nation.
Wright-Gallo has more than 25 years of experience supporting students and adults with disabilities. She served as the assistant superintendent of special education in the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington from 2017–2022 and previously as the state director of special education for the Utah State Board of Education for seven years. In her state-level education leadership roles, Wright-Gallo provided expertise in the improvement planning, data analysis, and monitoring of public pre-K through 12th grade+ special education programs. Before her state-level education leadership roles, Wright-Gallo worked as a classroom teacher and administrator.
Wright-Gallo has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a Master of Science degrees in special education from Utah State University; special education teacher and administrative licenses; endorsements as a program administrator, principal, and superintendent; and a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University.
The Edward L. Meyen Distinguished Lecture Series addresses cutting edge issues that impact people with disabilities including education, families, research, and instructional resources. Endowed by Stan Love of the Love Publishing Company, this lecture series honors the enduring legacy of Professor Edward L. Meyen who provided leadership for learning and innovation throughout his career at the University of Kansas.
The #1 public ranked Department of Special Education is housed in the KU School of Education and Human Sciences. The School of Education and Human Sciences is located in Lawrence, Kansas and is also a nationally-ranked school, preparing educators as leaders.