Wendy Gonzales, Ph.D.

Dr. Wendy Gonzales is a committed educator, scholar, and advocate with over two decades of experience in special education. Before transitioning to higher education, she spent 12 years as a bilingual special education teacher in urban school settings, where she worked to ensure access and equity for multilingual learners and students with disabilities. Her classroom experience continues to inform her work as a faculty member in the Department of Special Education at Northeastern Illinois University, where she teaches courses on inclusive practices, assessment, and instructional technology. Dr. Gonzales holds a Ph.D. in Special Education and focuses her teaching and research on culturally responsive pedagogy, equitable IEP practices, and effective strategies for preparing diverse teacher candidates. 

Her professional service includes years of leadership with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), where she served on the Leadership Development Committee, and held officer roles in various subdivisions in Illinois. She credits CEC with shaping her professional identity—from an unsure Ph.D. student at her first conference to a national leader helping move the work of the organization forward. She is passionate about creating those same pathways for new and emerging members, ensuring they have opportunities to grow, contribute, and lead.