Allison Lombardi

Allison Lombardi is a professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education. She studies the transition from adolescence to adulthood, with a particular focus on college and career readiness and higher education experiences of disabled students. Previous and current research projects include developing and testing effective curricula and assessments for improving special education transition services for disabled youth and young adults. She has secured over $14 million in external funding for her research from various federal and state agencies including the Institute of Education Sciences, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, the National Science Foundation. She has published over 75 articles in peer-reviewed journals, as well as 10 book chapters. Currently, she serves as the co-editor of Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, the official journal of the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Career Development and Transition. Previously, she was an associate professor at the University of Connecticut (2012-2024), where she taught courses in the Special Education Program and also directed two online graduate certificate programs. Dr. Lombardi earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and her PhD in special education from the University of Oregon.