Jennifer Wood Kanupka ’01

Dr. Jennifer Wood Kanupka is the Education Department Chair for undergraduate education programs and an Associate Professor. Her experience stems from teaching in K-12 special education programs and working as a Special Education administrator in Pennsylvania public schools. Her research interests include evidence-based classroom activities for pre-service special education teachers, the impact of exercise on children with disabilities, and family perspectives on supporting children with disabilities.

Manuscript Publications

Ferreira, D., Alleman, A., Constantini, R., Holdredge, T., Mowery, K., Kanupka, J., Oriel, K. (2023). The Feasibility and Benefits of A School-Based Running Program for Adolescents with Disabilities. Palaestra, 37(4).

Oriel, K.N., Kanupka, J., Scesa, M., Deardorff, A., Grow, S., Lane, L., Poltonavage, O (2020). The Impact of an Aquatic Social Competence Program on Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Aquatic Physical Therapy, 28(2).

George, C.L & Kanupka, J.W. (2019). Educating pre-service teachers on fathers’ involvement in raising children with disabilities. International Journal of Special Education, 34(1)

Oriel, K.N., Kanupka, J.W., Fuehrer, A.T., Klumpp, K.M., Stoltz, K.N., Willey, D.W., Decvalcante, M.L. (2018). The impact of a rock climbing program for adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. International Journal of Kinesiology in Higher Education. DOI: 10.1080/24711616.2018.1425601.

Oriel, K.N., Kanupka, J.W., George, C.L., Himmelberger, B., Janke, B., Repoley, M. (2017). The Impact of Participation in a Structured Aquatic Exercise Program on Parents’ Perceptions of Behavior in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Aquatic Physical Therapy, 25(1), 12-21.

George, C., Kanupka, J., Oriel, K.N. (2017). Impact of Participation in Community-Based Research Among Undergraduate and Graduate Students. Journal of Allied Health, 46(1):e15-e24.

Kanupka, J.W., Oriel, K.N., George, C.L., Hanna, A., Lloyd, S., and Snyders, O. (2016) The impact of participation in an aquatic exercise program on behavior in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A preliminary study. Austin Journal of Autism and Related Disabilities. 2(2), 106.

Oriel, K.N., Kanupka, J.W., George, C.L., Himmelberger, B., Janke, B., Repoley, M. (2017) The impact of participation in a structured aquatic exercise program on parents’ perceptions of behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Aquatic Physical Therapy. 25(1), 12-21.

Oriel, K.N., Kanupka, J.W., DeLong, K., Noel, K. (2014). The impact of aquatic exercise on sleep behaviors in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A pilot study. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. DOI:          10.1177/1088357614559212 (online before print)

Presentations

Pennsylvania Association of Colleges for Teacher Educators (PAC-TE), Harrisburg, Pa. (online) Fall 2020—Presented with Dr. Lindsay Koch and Mrs. Jennifer Kuntz—The Use of Critical Reflection through a Concentrated Book Study to Enhance the Use Active Engagement Strategies in Preservice Teachers

Teacher Education Division of Council for Exceptional Children (TED–CEC), Tempe, Ariz. November 4-7, 2015—Co-presented with Dr. Cheryl L. George—“Improving Pre-Service Teachers’ Perspectives on Fathers’ Involvement In Raising A Child with Disabilities”

Teacher Education Division of Council for Exceptional Children (TED-CEC), Indianapolis, Ind. November 5-8, 2014—Co-presented with Dr. Cheryl L. George—“Preparing Pre-Service Teachers to Collaborate with Families Through Faculty-Student Research”

International Conference on Autism, Intellectual Disability, and Developmental Disabilities (DADD)—Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Clearwater, Fla. January 2015—Co-presented with Dr. Cheryl L. George, and students Jennie Upton, Cheyenne Hostetter, and Natalie Horrocks—“Preparing Pre-Service Teachers to Collaborate with Families Through Faculty-Student Research”

• Spring 2025—Sabbatical 
• SPE 260—Evidence-Based Effective Instruction in Educating Students with High Incidence Disabilities
• SPE 390—Services and Strategies in Secondary Special Education
• SPE 410—Senior Capstone