Bonnie Kraemer elected chair of Department of Special Education
It’s hard to imagine the San Diego State University Department of Special Education being led by someone other than Laura J. Hall.
It’s also hard to imagine a more capable and tested successor than Professor Bonnie Kraemer.
Hall, who has served as chair of the department for more than 11 years, will step down at the end of the fall semester. Kraemer has been elected to the position, effective Jan. 2, 2025.
“While this is truly the end of an era for our SPED department, I am delighted we have chosen an outstanding new leader who is ready to carry the work forward,” said Y. Barry Chung, dean of the College of Education.
An expert on serving transition-age youth with autism, Kraemer has served on the SPED faculty and coordinated the extensive support needs credential program for 20 years. She has served as project director on several personnel preparation and research grants from funders such as the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), and was also deeply involved in SDSU's teaching credential transformation efforts spurred by its participation in the US PREP initiative.
Kraemer is also a longtime member of both the University Senate and College of Education Policy Council, the latter of which she served as chair for many years. During the spring 2024 semester, Kraemer served as interim chair of the department while Hall was on sabbatical.
“It just feels like the right time for me personally and, I think, for Laura,” Kraemer said. “Our faculty are innovative and excited. Everyone's been around long enough to where they've got their sea legs. I think we're all feeling good and ready to move things forward and be creative with how we offer our services and programming."
It’s certainly a transformative moment in the SPED department as several recent state and federal grants have provided support for both candidate tuition and program development.
Looking ahead, Kraemer is excited to continue collaboration and alignment with SDSU’s School of Teacher Education and Department of Dual Language and English Learner Education, which includes the expansion of SPED’s clinical practice requirements to a full year. The department is also exploring new modalities to extend access to special education programs to students in the Imperial Valley.
“I am confident that Bonnie will serve as an excellent leader of our department,” Hall said. “She is aware of our priorities, cares about maintaining the supportive faculty community we share, and understands the SDSU, state and professional landscapes.
“I am grateful that I can redirect my energy towards important projects knowing the department is in such good hands.”
