Deitra Kuester

Biography

Dr. Deitra Kuester is an Associate Professor in the Department of Education, Counseling and Leadership. She attained her Doctorate in the field of special education, minoring in Administration and Supervision as a Director of Special Education from Purdue University. After teaching as an adjunct at Purdue, Dr. Kuester joined Bradley University in 2006.

Teaching

Dr. Kuester teaches classes in the teacher education program. Using an experiential and collaborative approach to learning, she strives to incorporate hands-on, real-world opportunities for her students within the community. Through iterative methods, Dr. Kuester especially enjoys working alongside her students as they learn and apply research-based strategies and interventions that support successful inclusion among children with and without exceptional needs.

Scholarship

Dr. Kuester’s scholarship interests reflect a common theme of multi- and interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly using social assistive robots to help teach social skills and appropriate behavior. She was awarded a patent on a game board she designed that offers teachers and other users, endless options for its practical, securely-closed, individual compartments for gameboard designs. Dr. Kuester has published several scholarly articles on her multidisciplinary robot projects, as well as faculty-student collaboration, presented worldwide, and she has secured over $120K in grants. Dr. Kuester is the two-time recipient of the College of Education, Counseling and Leadership Research Award at Bradley University.

Service

Dr. Kuester is on the Executive Board for the Association of Teacher Educators and is a reviewer for the Council for Exceptional Children Teacher Education Division. She serves on several University, College and Departmental Committees, and continues to be the Chair for the Scholarship Committee. She is the faculty sponsor for Alpha Kappa Alpha Epsilon Eta Sorority, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. Dr. Kuester is a strong supporter of children and families of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, and Team Rubicon (military-based, first-responder team of former military members.)

Licensures and Certifications

• Indiana Professional Educator License: Special Education with Computer Education Endorsement
• Administration and Supervision, Director of Special Education
• Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative for the Use of Human Subjects in Research
• Epilepsy Recognition and Early Response Certification
• Experiential Learning Methodology Certification
• Suicide Prevention Training Certification