Elena Ghionis
Dr. Ghionis is an experienced educator in Intellectual Disabilities, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Learning Disabilities, and Early Childhood Special Education. She is a certified autism specialist, a board-certified cognitive specialist, and a worldwide recognized expert in inclusive education and Autism and Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Ghionis is a certified professional interpreter in Special Education. She is proficient in special education law and has worked on developing policies, procedures, programs, and continuing to support stakeholders on a local and international level. Dr. Ghionis has extensive experience creating and implementing inclusive curriculums and programs for children with special needs.
Dr. Ghionis implements up-to-date state requirements to train teachers to innovate to meet the ever-changing and challenging needs of students with disabilities. She developed the first graduate-level program in Autism Spectrum Disorder in South Carolina, graduating 35 professionals with a Certificate from Converse College in 2018. In 2022, Dr. Ghionis created a new cognate (Special Education) for a Converse EDD Program in Professional Leadership. She co-created the first MEd program in Advanced Studies with a concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorder in South Carolina. She is a reviewer of proposals and scientific research for the Council of Exceptional Learners (CEC) and the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR). Dr. Ghionis is married with three children. She loves the mountains, traveling, and spending time with family.
Scholarly & Research Activity
Dr. Ghionis’ research interests include human genetics, assessment and evaluation of exceptional learners, intervention for children at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders, conditions comorbid to Autism, and teacher professional development.
Selected Publications & Presentations
Dr. Ghionis has published articles on special education, educational psychology, and teacher education. She translated the Teaching Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Classrooms (Bryant, Bryant, Smith) textbook into two languages. She has presented research related to inclusion, Autism, Developmental Disabilities, Intellectual Disabilities, and teacher education at numerous conferences all over the world.