College of Ed names Conderman chair of the Department of Special and Early Education

Greg Conderman
Greg Conderman

Greg Conderman has been named chair of the Department of Special and Early Education (SEED) in the College of Education effective July 1st.  Conderman has been serving as acting chair for SEED since last June.

Dean Laurie Elish-Piper offered her congratulations, stating “Dr. Greg Conderman has done a remarkable job as Acting Chair of the Special and Early Education Department this past year. The faculty and staff have rated his performance as excellent, and I am thrilled to have him take on the role as Chair for the next four years.  He brings a depth of knowledge, collaborative approach, and problem-solving stance to his leadership which will allow him to effectively lead SEED into the future.”

Before entering higher education, Conderman taught special education for seven years, and worked as an educational consultant for two years. His previous faculty positions were at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and St. Ambrose University.  He joined the NIU faculty in 2003. At NIU, he has worked as faculty adviser for the Student Council for Exceptional Children and a faculty sponsor for T.E.A.C.H. House.

“I’ve learned a great deal this past year serving as acting chair,” Conderman stated. “I continue to be impressed with the SEED faculty and staff regarding their excellent work ethic, their collaborative spirit, and their willingness to support students. I am looking forward to facilitating new initiatives within the department that will further advance our undergraduate and graduate programs in early childhood and special education.  I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to continue to work with a great team at both the College and department levels.”

He is the author of two books and more than 90 peer-reviewed manuscripts. His areas of interest are co-teaching, strategy instruction and instructional methods for inclusive classrooms. To that end, he serves on several review boards, is a frequent presenter at state and national conferences and conducts faculty development on co-teaching in school districts in Illinois.

Conderman’s dedication to his field have garnered him awards and recognition, such as the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s University Excellence in Teaching Award, the Wisconsin Teacher Educator of the Year, the Illinois Special Education Excellence in Teaching Award, and the NIU College of Education Exceptional Contributions to Teaching Award.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education from the University of Northern Iowa; a master’s degree in special education from the University of Northern Iowa; and a doctorate in special education with an emphasis in learning disabilities and college teaching from the University of Northern Colorado.

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