Nicole Sparapani, PhD

Associate Professor
School of Education and the MIND Institute
University of California, Davis

Session 2B - Language Interactions as Intervention: Best Practice Approaches to Engage and Motivate Neurodiverse Learners

Nicole Sparapani, PhD, is an associate professor within the School of Education and the MIND Institute. Dr. Sparapani’s background in speech-language pathology, developmental psychology, and education has informed her research agenda, which focuses on the dynamic and transactional interplay between children and their classroom environment. The overarching goal of her research agenda is to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of neurodivergent learners, including children on the autism spectrum. Dr. Sparapani has extensive expertise in the areas of observational research methods, student active engagement, teacher instructional moves, and the development and implementation of individualized educational programs for neurodivergent students. Primarily using systematic observational research methods, Dr. Sparapani studies the reciprocal influence that environmental-level characteristics (i.e., teacher language and instructional practices) and student-level characteristics (developmental and skill profiles) have on one another to shape learning over time.