Dr. Knowles has diverse experiences as an educator and researcher in educational, home, and community contexts. She has worked as a special education professional for students with emotional and behavioral disorders and intellectual and developmental disabilities across the developmental continuum. Her research interests are housed under the desire to improve equitable outcomes for individuals historically marginalized by the education system and society. She has taught courses in Diversity in Special Education, Foundations of Disability, Supporting Students with Low-Incidence Disability, Introduction to Behavior Disorders, and Child Studies.
2017 PhD Special Education, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
2007 MS Special Education, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
2004 BA Psychology and English, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington
Selected Publications
Knowles, C., Murray, C., Gau, J. (2024) Evaluating a Self-Report Measure of Teacher-Student Relationships among Children with Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties. School Psychology International. https://doi.org/10.1177/01430343241248759
Knowles, C., Bromley, K. W. ., Sinclair, J. ., Lahna, D. ., Whitehat, P. ., Kinavey-Wennerstrom, E. ., Stevens, A. ., & Seeley, J. R. . (2023). A Longitudinal Mixed Methods Investigation of Special Educator Stress in the Northwest Region of the United States. Journal of Mixed Methods Studies, (7), 1–27. Retrieved from https://jomesonline.com/index.php/jomes/article/view/30
Knowles, C., D’Agostino, S., Kunze, M., Uitto, & D., Douglas, S. (2022). A systematic review of asynchronous online learning opportunities for paraeducators. Journal of Special Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/00224669221085306
Knowles, C., Gau, J., Logan, S., Sloane, B., & Rochelle, J. (2022). Service-oriented robotics to promote mobility for young children with disabilities. International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship, 17(2), 14-32.
Knowles, C., Shannon, E., & Lind, J. (2021) Animal-assisted activities for children with emotional and behavioral challenges. Children and Youth Services Review, 131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106290
Shwartzman, R., Knowles, C. (2021) Expanding Accessibility: Sensory Sensitive Programming for Museums. Curator: The Museum Journal, 65(1), 95-116. https://doi.org/10.1111/cura.12452
Knowles, C., Murray, C., Gau, J., & Toste, J. (2020). Teacher-student working alliance among students with emotional and behavioral disorders, Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, doi: 10.1177/0734282919874268
Sinclair, J., Hansen, S. G., Machalicek, W., Knowles, C., Hirano, K. A., Dolata, J. K., Blakely, A. W., Seeley, J. R., & Murray, C. (2018). A 16-year review of participant diversity in intervention research across a selection of 12 special education journals. Exceptional Children, 84, 312-329. doi:10.1177/0014402918756989
Knowles, C., Blakely, A., Hansen, S., Machalicek, W. (2017). Parents with intellectual disabilities experiencing challenging child routines: A pilot study using embedded self-determination practices. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 30(3), 433-444.
Trader, B., Stonemeier, J., Berg, T., Knowles, C., Massar, M., Monzalve, M., Pinkelman, S., Nese, R., Ruppert, T., Horner, R. (2017). Promoting inclusion through evidence-based alternatives to restraint and seclusion. Research and Practice for Persons with severe Disabilities, 42(2), 75-88.
Knowles, C., Harris, A., VanNorman, R. (2016). Family fun nights: Collaborative parent education accessible for diverse learning abilities. Early Childhood Education Journal, 45(3), 393-401.
Knowles, C., Massur, M., Raulston, T., Machalicek, W. (2016). Telehealth consultation in a self-contained classroom for behavior: A pilot study. Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth, 61(1), 28-38.
Knowles, C., Meng, P., & Machalicek, W. (2015) Task sequencing for children with emotional and behavioral disorders: A systematic review. Behavior Modification, 39(1), 136-166.
Knowles, C., Machalicek, W., & Van Norman, R. (2015). Parent education for adults with intellectual disability: A review and suggestions for future research. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 18(5), 336-348.
The scholarship of Dr. Knowles is focused on developing low-effort and low-cost solutions for complex challenges in educational and community contexts, inspired by her work as a special education professional and as the Associate Director of the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at the University of Oregon. Her research interests include paraeducator training, strategies to support youth experiencing emotional or behavioral challenges, accessible employment, and understanding the factors that lead to educator burnout.