Dr. Christopher J. Craig

Details

Education

Degrees

• EdD, 1994, Special Education, Vanderbilt University
• EdS, 1990, Educational Administration, Missouri State University 
• MEd, 1986, Special Education, Drury College
• BME, 1982, Drury College

Certifications

• Lifetime Missouri teaching certification

Teaching

• GEP 397 Disability Issues for the 21st Century, Capstone Course
• SEC 683 Internship I (Master of Arts in Teaching)
• SPE 310 Introduction to Special Education
• SPE 320 Introduction to Teaching Cross Categorical Special Education
• SPE 340 Educational Alternatives for Exceptional Students
• SPE 345 Educational Evaluation of Exceptional Students
• SPE 346 Educational Evaluation of Exceptional Students Lab
• SPE 360 Counseling Parents of Exceptional Students
• SPE 483 Methods of Teaching Students with Mental Handicaps
• SPE 485 Curriculum and Methods in Early Childhood Special Education
• SPE 493 Practicum in Mental Handicaps
• SPE 505 Reading and Writing Braille
• SPE 507 Anatomy and Structure of the Eye
• SPE 509 Methods of Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
• SPE 509 Methods of Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
• SPE 610 Introduction to Special Education (Master of Arts in Teaching)
• SPE 681 Educational Consultation (Multi-Point Interactive Video)
• SPE 686 Seminar in Special Education

Professional experience

• Deputy Provost, July 1, 2016-Present
• Associate Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs, Missouri State University, 2006-2009, 2012-2016 
• Director, School of Education and Child Development, Drury University, 2009-2012
• Associate Dean, College of Education, Missouri State University, 2000-2006
• Director, School of Teacher Education, Southwest Missouri State University, 2000-2001
• Head of the Department of Reading and Special Education, Southwest Missouri State University, 1996-2000
• Special Education Process Coordinator, Kraft Administrative Services Center, Springfield, Missouri Public Schools, 1993-1994
• Americans with Disabilities  Act and  Section 504 Coordinator, Kraft Administrative Services Center, Springfield, Missouri Public Schools, 1993-1994
• Lecturer, Field Supervisor, Department of Special Education, George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, 1991-1994
• Adjunct faculty, Department of Education, Drury College, 1989-1990
• Itinerant/Consulting teacher for students with visual impairments, Springfield, Missouri Public Schools, 1985-1991
• Instructor of children and youth with multiple disabilities, Springfield, Missouri Public Schools, 1985-1991
• Itinerant teacher of students with learning disabilities, Nixa, Missouri Public Schools, 1984-1985

Memberships

• ARC of the Ozarks Board, 2016
• Community Foundation of the Ozarks Board, 2016
• Missouri AER Board, 2000-Present
• Editorial Board, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 1999-2005
• American Education Research Association member, 2002-2006
• Council for Exceptional Children, Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD), Division of Teacher Education (TED)
• Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), Division of Personnel Preparation, Division of Early Childhood 
• Founder, Vision Rehabilitation Center of the Ozarks (VRCO)

Research and professional interests

Dr. Craig’s primary research interests have been in promoting early literacy experiences for children and youth with disabilities and the roles of families in the home literacy process for this population. Dr. Craig has studied various forms of assistive technology for children and youth who are blind, including research on emerging technologies such as the BrainPort, a device that provides images of the environment in real time directly to the visual cortex. More recently, Dr. Craig has worked to develop and implement Bear POWER, a post-secondary program for students with intellectual disabilities. Dr. Craig works closely with the Provost Fellow for Diversity on initiatives impacting mentors, recruitment, and facing racism on campus and in the community.

Dr. Craig has a number of publications in the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness (JVIB), as well as other peer-reviewed journals and numerous national presentations that have showcased his research with colleagues from Vanderbilt University and MSU. Prior to coming to the university in August of 1994, Dr. Craig worked as a teacher and administrator for 10 years with the Springfield and Nixa Public Schools in the area of Special Education.

Other interests

Dr. Craig is a singer-songwriter and performs high energy acoustic rock & roll regularly with his band called Hendrix and Craig.  Dr. Craig is a published song writer and continues to write music for a variety of entertainers, including his close friend David Harrison, renowned children’s author and lead singer of the Bryan Biggers Band.     

Awards and honors

• Men of the Year honoree, Springfield Business Journal, 2015
• Greek Excellence Award, Drury University Fraternity and Sorority Life, 2009
• Leadership Springfield Program appointee, 2008
• Honorary Member of the Golden Key International Honour Society, Southwest Missouri State University (chosen to present at the Honors Banquet), Fall 2004
• Joan Davis Award nominee, Missouri Council for Exceptional Children, Awards Ceremony held in conjunction with the Missouri State CEC Conference, March 1999
• Recognition of Service Award, Missouri Assistive Technology Exposition and Conference, April 1998
• Nixa Missouri High School Academic Hall of Fame inductee, May 1995
• Fellowship Award, U.S. Department of Education, Department of Special Education, George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, 1991-1992 & 1992-1993 academic years
• Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Award, Sixth annual awards banquet; Opportunity Development Center; Vanderbilt University, October 1992
• National Scholarship Award for Teachers, Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, 1992
• National Federation of the Blind National Student Scholarship recipient, 1990
• Missouri Council of the Blind State Scholarship recipient, 1990
• Special Service Award, Southwest Center for Independent Living, Springfield, MO, 1990
• Rudolph Dillman Scholarship recipient for professionals in the field of educating students with visual impairments, American Foundation for the Blind, 1988 and 1989
• Mortarboard Society, Drury College, 1982
• Departmental Honors, Music Department, Drury College, 1982
• Special Achievement Award, Music Education and Special Education, Education Department, Drury College, 1982

Additional resources

• Vitae