Shantel M. Farnan
Shantel M. Farnan, EdD, is Associate Professor and Coordinator of Special Education programs at Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri. She is beginning her 30th year in education, including experience in special education (preschool through postsecondary) as a teacher, special education director, and now professor. She has been the recipient of several awards connected to education, including the Dean’s Award for Teaching, Award for Excellence for Community Leadership as CEC Student Group Advisor, Excellence in Agility and Innovation as Graduate Education Coordinator, and the Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty Award.
Farnan has been active in state and national special education organizations, serving on the boards of the Missouri Council of Administrators of Special Education (MO-CASE), Missouri Council for Exceptional Children (MO-CEC), Teacher Education Division (TED), and Small Special Education Programs Caucus (SSEPC). Of particular honor to Farnan was being elected TED’s first Special Interest Group and Caucus Liaison. She was honored to receive the Nasim Dil Service Award for Outstanding Service to Teacher Education in Small Special Education Programs in 2023.
The courses Farnan teaches are in the areas of introduction to special education, methods of special education, leadership in special education, and special education practicum. Her research and scholarly interests are focused on collaboration, high-leverage practices, profession-based learning, collaborative scholarship, and diverse field experiences. She has enjoyed teaching on these important topics and publishing many manuscripts focused on them as well.
In her free time, Farnan enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, hiking, and being involved in community activities and organizations, including as a “Big” in the Big Sisters, Big Brothers organization with her husband Darren. She is proud to have her son, Brady, recently graduated from her alma mater and her daughter, Maggie, pursuing a degree in special education.