DARTS Board of Directors

Jasmine Begeske, President (2026-2028) 

Dr. Jasmine Begeske is a Clinical Associate Professor of Special Education and co-director of CREATE: the Center for Research and Equipment for Assistive Technology in Education at Purdue University. Drawing on her former experience as a P-12 special education and art education teacher, she focuses her research and teaching on accessibility in arts education, individualized assistive technology solutions, and teacher development. She is committed to improving educational outcomes for students with disabilities and empowering educators to provide equitable access to high-quality instruction. Dr. Begeske teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in instructional methods for students with mild to extensive support needs. With over 20 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities and their families, she is a dedicated advocate for the disability community. She serves as co-editor of the Journal of Arts and Special Education. Outside of academia, Jasmine enjoys hanging out with her two elderly chihuahuas in her garden full of whimsy and a few veggies. 

Kathleen Farrand, DARTS Past-President (Elections Chair; 2026-2028) 

Dr. Kathleen Farrand is an Associate Professor in Mary Lou Fulton College of Teaching and Learning Innovation, Arizona State University. She has a Ph.D. in Language, Education, and Society and a M.A. in Educational Administration from The Ohio State University, and an M.Ed. in Elementary Education from the University of Florida. She formerly taught 1st grade, 3rd grade, and preschool. Her areas of research focus on the use of dramatic inquiry in inclusive classrooms found along a continuum of educational placements to support student achievement and social emotional wellbeing and the use of therapy dogs to support social emotional well-being of students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Farrand is editor for the Visual Impairment and DeafBlind Education Quarterly journal and serves on the executive board for the Council for Exceptional Children-Division of Visual Impairments and Deafblindness (DVIDB). She is past president (2022-2024) for the Division of Visual and Performing Arts Education (DARTS).

David J. Berg, DARTS President-Elect (Awards Chair; 2026-2028) 

David J. Berg is a practicing secondary special education teacher, youth mentor, musician, and advocate for human-centered arts education. A graduate of the New York University Tisch School of the Arts and Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Alternative Teacher Licensure Program, his research and philosophy focus on student voice, becoming, belonging, and creativity as pathways to personal growth and empowerment for all students. He is the creator of MENTEE-SS (Mentorship, Engagement, Nurturing, Trust, Empowerment, and Excellence Systems of Support for Students and Families), which earned the Dr. Kathleen Luttenegger Master of Arts in Teaching Capstone Award from MSU Denver. His article, “I Am Mentorship: Hip-Hop as a Mirror for Belonging and Becoming,” was published in the Journal of the Arts and Special Education. David is a two-time recipient of the Educator Innovation Award in his home district, serves on Colorado’s Health Standards Review and Revision Committee, and has presented at district, state, and national conferences on the power of mentorship, belonging, and the arts in the lives of students with exceptionalities. Outside the classroom, he enjoys skiing, hiking, cooking, reading, and playing the piano.

Michelle Cook, DARTS Secretary (2026-2027) 

Michelle Cook is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Her research is primarily focused on evidence-based learning interventions for culturally and linguistically diverse learners who either have disabilities or may be at risk of academic difficulty in the areas of reading and writing. Before beginning her graduate studies, she spent 14 years teaching, gaining extensive experience supporting students with and without disabilities in second-language settings. She is deeply committed to examining how educators and researchers can promote learning and inclusion through the meaningful integration of the arts.

Michael Dunn, DARTS Treasurer (2026-2028) 

Dr. Michael Dunn is a professor of Special Education and Literacy at Washington State University Vancouver. He is originally from a small village in Nova Scotia, Canada. In high school, Michael was active in the performing arts–concert and jazz bands playing the trombone. Michael’s father contracted scarlet fever at age 12 which resulted in his having complete hearing loss; disability was a part of Michael’s family experience. From 1991-2002, Michael was a K-8 teacher in the Toronto, Ontario, area which included six years as a Special Education teacher. It was during this time that he began an interest in the visual arts–photography. After completing his PhD in Special Education at Indiana University Bloomington (2002-2005), Michael’s research has focused on strategy development to help children and adults improve their writing skills (e.g., ideas for planning, organizing ideas, drafting text, and making edits/revisions) and technology tools, including generative artificial intelligence (genAI). Michael continues to work with colleagues to develop the SkribaTools writing strategy website hub. 

Jennifer Elaine Smith, DARTS Representative Assembly (2026-2028) 

Dr. Jennifer Elaine Smith is a Clinical Associate Professor of Special Education and co-director of CREATE: the Center for Research and Equipment for Assistive Technology in Education at Purdue University, where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses and is the undergraduate program director for two programs. Prior to joining higher education in 2019, she taught for 15 years at the elementary level for Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Hawaii Public Schools in Waipahu, Hawaii. She is an active board member of the Council for Exceptional Children, serving as the DARTS Representative Member. Along with a focus on access and accessibility for all students to be successful, her research interests also focus on creativity/creative self-efficacy for students with disabilities, teacher preparation, and developing positive student-teacher-family relationships. Outside of higher education, she enjoys traveling with her family–especially to anywhere Disney!

Sedigheh Fatollahzadeh Dizaji, Membership Chair (2026-2027) 

Sedigheh is a Ph.D. candidate in Special Education at Purdue University, where she serves as a Research Assistant and Operations Coordinator at the Center for Research and Equipment for Assistive Technology in Education (CREATE) Lab. Her research focuses on artificial intelligence, assistive technology, inclusive education, and community-based art projects. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Master of Fine Arts in Painting, and a master's degree in art education. With more than 20 years of experience as an artist, art educator, and curator, she has exhibited her work in over 40 exhibitions across multiple countries and has taught in universities, schools, community organizations, and private studios. Her scholarship explores how assistive technology, artificial intelligence, and art-based practices can promote inclusion, address systemic inequities, and empower individuals with disabilities and other marginalized communities. Through both her research and artistic practice, she strives to create inclusive spaces that integrate creativity, technology, and education.

Lucia del Valle Penella, DARTS Student Chair (2026-2027) 

Lucia del Valle is a Ph.D. student in Special Education at the University of Florida. With a focus on the experiences of students with disabilities, her research examines how art-based practices shape agency and self-determination in K–12 settings. Prior to beginning doctoral studies, Lucia founded the first inclusive dance company in Mexico as a nonprofit association and worked with the Houston Ballet Community and Engagement Program. With over 15 years of experience working with marginalized communities, she is committed to fostering inclusive environments through the arts. 

David Ray Gutierrez Miranda, DARTS Publication Chair (2026-2027) 

Dr. David Ray Miranda is an Assistant Professor in the Special Education Department at the University of West Georgia and serves as the Production Editor for the Journal of the Arts and Special Education (JASE). He has received degrees and training in psychology, behavior analysis, and special education. Over the past 10 years, David has supported people with disabilities across various ages from pre-K to adulthood and across various settings, including residential homes, schools, and clinics. His areas of research interest include incorporating student preferences and behavioral training for parents, educators, and related-service professionals. Outside of academia, David has an aquarium with 10 shrimps and 2 axolotls. 

Sara Lucas-Dreiss, Professional Engagement Chair (2026-2027)

Sara Lucas-Dreiss, NBCT, is an exceptional needs specialist whose work focuses on adapted arts, assistive technology, and advancing equitable access and meaningful participation for learners with disabilities. A nationally recognized presenter, researcher, and consultant, she provides professional development on inclusive education, Universal Design for Learning, assistive technology, accessibility, and adaptive arts. Sara serves as Professional Engagement Chair for CEC-DARTS and Professional Development Liaison for the National Art Education Association’s Art in Special Education Division, partnering with state and national organizations to expand inclusive practices.

Cody Puckett, DARTS Ambassadors Chair (2026-2027)

Cody Lee Puckett, M.Ed., is a Ph.D. scholar in Music Education at the University of South Florida, where he also explores a doctoral cognate in Speech and Auditory Sciences. A dedicated educator and researcher, his work focuses on Deaf music pedagogy, multisensory frameworks, and accessible music intervention for students with disabilities. Cody balances higher education instruction as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at USF and an Adjunct Professor at both Lake-Sumter State College and the College of the Florida Keys, alongside his role as an Adaptive Music Educator for Polk County Public Schools. His commitment to the field is reflected in peer-reviewed publications, including the Journal of General Music Education , and extensive professional service, currently serving as the State Ambassador Chair for DARTS and Membership Chair for DCD within the Council for Exceptional Children.

Beverley Holden Johns, Founder’s Circle Chair (2026-2027) 

Bev Johns has been in the field of special education for over 40 years, retiring from the public schools where she developed programs for students with learning disabilities and emotional/behavioral disorders. She founded a public school for children with the most significant behavioral challenges. She is the author or co-author of 23 books. She was a Professional Fellow at MacMurray College. She served as the secretary of DARTS and now is the chair of the Founder’s Circle. She was a Professional Fellow at MacMurray College. She was the recipient of the 2022 DARTS Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2000 Outstanding Leadership Award of CEC, and the recipient of the Romaine Mackie Award given by the Pioneers Division. She has served as President of CCBD and the Pioneers.

Thank you for all you do to make the arts meaningful and inclusive for each and every student!

 Check out our website! https://darts.exceptionalchildren.org/