In her 30-year career in special education, Joan M. Karp has had a variety of roles in schools and universities. She taught, conducted research and administered programs at Rhode Island College, University of Washington, University of California Santa Barbara, and University of Minnesota Duluth. Most recently she co-directs the Arrowhead Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology Project at the University of Minnesota Duluth. This project involves changing the ways in which teachers are prepared to use technology by integrating technology tools into coursework throughout campus and strengthening the relationships among the university, Duluth Public Schools, and Fond du Lac Ojibwe Schools. As professor of special education at University of Minnesota Duluth, she has been instrumental in developing a number of innovative uses of technology with undergraduate and graduate students.
Strongly committed to diversity issues, Dr. Karp co-authored a textbook on preparing educators who have disabilities entitled, Enhancing Diversity: Educators with Disabilities published by Gallaudet University Press. She also conducted research on the inclusion of young children with disabilities into general education, the preparation of graduate level professionals who work with young children with disabilities and their families, and the facilitation of interagency teams.
At University of Minnesota Duluth, her administrative positions included Associate Dean, Assistant Department Head, and Program Coordinator. Early in her career, she taught primary and preschool children with special needs in inner city schools in Providence, Rhode Island.
Dr. Karp holds a Doctor of Philosophy from University of Connecticut in special education, a Master of Science in mental retardation from Syracuse University, and a Bachelor of Science in elementary and special education from Rhode Island College.
