Amber B. Ray, Ph.D.

Amber Ray, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of special education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Ray's research interests include writing and reading interventions and instruction to help students with disabilities and diverse learning needs succeed. Her research focuses on strategy and self-regulation approaches to instruction and methods of professional development for teachers and school leaders on effective writing and reading instruction. Ray works on developing evidence-based instruction to cultivate the learning of all students, including those with disabilities, and has conducted research with elementary through high school students and adults. Her passion for inclusion in Catholic schools was sparked in the early days of her own pre-service instruction at Loras College where she earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary special education and English literature. She then earned her master's of education in special education and literacy specialist endorsement through the Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education. During this time, Ray was a high school special education teacher at LaSalle Catholic College Preparatory. She helped start a special education program that would meet the needs of students with disabilities. She then became the co-director of special education. Ray went on to earn her Ph.D. in learning, literacies, and technologies with a specialization in special education at Arizona State University. Ray is the president of the FIRE Foundation of Central Illinois and works to ignite inclusive Catholic education. She continues her devotion to Catholic schools by delivering professional development for teachers and school leaders.