Nicole Birri
Nicole Birri, Ed.D., serves as a youth community research specialist for the SWTCIE Illinois project and the Illinois Institute for Rehabilitation and Employment Research at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She brings over 20 years of experience in special education, including teaching transition-aged students and young adults with a range of disabilities in school and postsecondary settings.
For the past five years, Nicole served as a Training Specialist with the Illinois Center for Transition and Work (ICTW), providing training and technical assistance to educators, rehabilitation providers, and other adult agencies across Illinois to improve post-school outcomes for students with disabilities. Prior to this role, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship at UIUC, expanding her expertise in transition services and the education of students with significant disabilities.
Nicole’s research interests focus on workplace social skills, with a particular emphasis on evidence-based practices that support adolescents and young adults with significant disabilities in developing and maintaining employment. She serves on the editorial boards for The Journal of Special Education and Preventing School Failure.
Education
- Ed.D., Special Education, University of Cincinnati, 2018
- M.Ed., Special Education, University of Cincinnati, 2016
- B.S., Special Education, University of Cincinnati, 2011
- A.A.S., Legal Assisting Technology, University of Cincinnati, 2005