Jessi Harkins Upshaw, PhD
Program Chair, Department of Elementary, Secondary, and Higher Education
Biography
Dr. Jessi Harkins Upshaw (she, her, hers) is an Associate Professor and Program Chair of the Master of Arts in Special Education (MASE) program within the Division of Education Professions in the Global College of Professional Advancement at the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC). She has worked in the field of neurodivergence/developmental disabilities, behavior analysis, and early childhood to higher education since the early 2000s.
Dr. Upshaw earned her PhD in Special Education with a graduate emphasis in Educational Psychology, Behavior Analysis, and Autism Research and Leadership from the University of North Texas; her MEd in Special Education with an emphasis in Autism Intervention and Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas; and her BA in Psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Prior to entering higher education in 2009, she served as a therapist, program coordinator, staff trainer/organizational behavior management (OBM) specialist, consultant, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and special educator. Dr. Upshaw began her time in higher education as an adjunct faculty member and curriculum designer at multiple on-campus and online institutions, supporting undergraduate and graduate programs. Dr. Upshaw joined UAGC in 2016 to continue the mission of exponentially impacting the lives of future educators through accessible higher education. Her work has focused on intervention, research, and advocacy for neurodivergent students, their families and communities, and the educators who support them.
Dr. Upshaw lives in North Texas with her family, dogs, and a mischievous cat. She enjoys traveling, hiking, axe throwing, spending time outdoors, and the culinary and visual arts.