Master of Arts in Special Education 

offered by The University of Arizona Global Campus

Dr. Jessi Harkins Upshaw (she/her/hers) is an Associate Professor of the Master of Arts in Special Education (MASE) program in the Department of Education and Liberal Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arizona Global Campus. She has worked in the field of developmental disabilities, behavior analysis, and education since the turn of the 21st Century. Originally from Wisconsin, Jessi earned her PhD in special education with graduate emphasis in educational psychology, behavior analysis, and Autism research and leadership from the University of North Texas; her MEd in special education with emphasis in Autism intervention and behavior analysis from the University of North Texas; and her BA in psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington. She has served as therapist, treatment center program coordinator, staff trainer, associate consultant, consultant, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and special education teacher. In addition to special education, student and family advocacy, and higher education instruction, Dr. Upshaw specializes in intervention, research, and leadership/advocacy for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), their families, and their educators

Dr. Denise Maxwell serves as a Professor for the MA in Education program in the Department of Education and Liberal Arts at the University of Arizona Global Campus. She earned her EdD in Educational Leadership from the University of Phoenix, an MA in Educational Leadership from the University of Northern Colorado, an MA in Education and Educational Psychology from Ball State University, and a BS in Special Education and Elementary Education from Central Oklahoma State University. Her professional experiences include classroom teacher, special education teacher, professional developer, mentor, administrator, principal, educational consultant, Assistant Professor, and Associate Dean. Her passion for online learning and instruction served as the motivation for joining University of Arizona Global Campus. “Online learning provides an availability of degree programs and access to learning that aligns with the lives of professionals,” she says. “My belief is the online classroom and interactions between students in this format represent the future for K-12 education and higher education. Being part of this learning format and working directly with other colleagues and students is an exciting and rewarding process.”