Faculty and Staff

Get to know the individuals that comprise the Department of Special Education.

Faculty

Amber Friesen

Amber Friesen

Professor

Special Education Department Chair 

afriesen@sfsu.edu | (415) 338-7654

Dr. Yvonne Bui

Yvonne Bui

Professor (on Sabbatical Fall 2023)

Mild to Moderate Support Needs

ybui@sfsu.edu | (415) 338-2503

Marjike Devos

Marijke Devos

Faculty Advisor and Lecturer

Visual Impairments

mxdevos@sfsu.edu

Adam Graves

Adam Graves

Assistant Professor

Visual Impairments 

adamgraves@sfsu.edu

Mayumi Hagiwara

Mayumi Hagiwara

Assistant Professor, ESN CalTPA Coordinator

Extensive Support Needs

mhagiwara@sfsu.edu | (415) 338-1161

Dr. Maryssa Kucskar Mitsch

Maryssa Kucskar Mitsch

Associate Professor, ECSE Program Coordinator, SPED Minor Program Coordinator

Early Childhood Special Education

mmitsch@sfsu.edu | (415) 338-3430

Dr. Kathleen Mortier

Kathleen Mortier

Associate Professor, ESN Program Coordinator

Extensive Support Needs

kmortier@sfsu.edu | (415) 338-7847

Melissa Omahony

Melissa Omahony

Faculty Advisor and Lecturer

Early Childhood Special Education

momahony@sfsu.edu | (415) 338-7847

Dr. Mary Requa

Mary Requa

Assistant Professor, MMSN Program Coordinator

Mild to Moderate Support Needs

mrequa@sfsu.edu | (415) 338-3428

Dr. Sandra Rosen

Sandra Rosen

Professor, O&M Program Coordinator

Orientation & Mobility

srosen@sfsu.edu | (415) 338-1245

Sharon Sacks

Sharon Sacks

VI Program Coordinator

Visual Impairments

ssacks1351@sfsu.edu

Dr. Gloria Soto

Gloria Soto

Professor

Joint Doctoral Program Coordinator

gsoto@sfsu.edu | (415) 338-1757

Jude Wolf

Jude Wolf

Faculty Advisor, MMSN CalTPA Coordinator

Mild Moderate Support Needs 

judewolf@sfsu.edu

Staff

Steve Macaris

Steven Macaris

Intern Program Coordinator & Student Services Specialist

smacaris@sfsu.edu | (415) 338-1271

  • Intern Program Coordinator
  • Student teaching application & credential exit 
  • Master’s Exam Coordination and graduation
  • JD Admission and program support 
  • Present at monthly Information Sessions
  • Manage department website
  • General student inquiries

Jason Madeloso

Jason Madeloso

Student Services Coordinator

jamadeloso@sfsu.edu | (415) 338-1161

  • New student graduate admissions (Masters, Credential, Certificates)
  • Undergraduate Minor in Special Education admissions and support
  • Continuing students petitions and waivers (e.g., Advance to Candidacy, Petition for Culminating Experience, course substitution, 7 Year Limit Extension, Transfer of Units, change of program, express readmission)
  • Coordinate recruitment activities and present at monthly Information Sessions
  • Continuing student enrollment data
  • Conditional admissions and archival data 
  • Department email account
  • General student inquiries 

Denise Miyajima

Denise Miyajima

Academic Office Coordinator

dmiya@sfsu.edu | (415) 338-2156

  • Course scheduling
  • Lecturer Faculty appointments and evaluations
  • Purchasing and receiving
  • Faculty and student travel
  • Grants and honorariums 
  • Operating and expenses budget
  • Trust and U-CORP accounts
  • Accreditation support
  • Department newsletter
  • General office coordination