2026 Dean’s Merit Scholar Stephanie Fernandez
Introduction
Stephanie Fernandez is a PhD recipient in Special Education whose academic journey and professional commitments reflect her deep dedication to young children with disabilities and their families. A proud alum of UIC’s master’s program in Early Childhood Education, Stephanie chose to continue her doctoral studies at UIC because of the strong sense of community and the mentorship she received from faculty such as Sunyoung (Sunny) Kim, whose guidance shaped her trajectory as a scholar and educator.
Before her graduate studies, Fernandez earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from DePaul University, after beginning her undergraduate career and competing in Division II water polo at Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania. Her professional path began in the classroom as a general education teacher, where early experiences supporting students with disabilities and their families motivated her to pursue specialized training.
Fernandez’s doctoral work centered on early childhood special education, with a research focus on Latine family experiences. Her dissertation, a comparative study of Mexican and Mexican American mothers’ and fathers’ perspectives on supporting young children with disabilities, highlights the importance of listening to fathers’ voices across cultural and national contexts.
“One of the biggest takeaways from my dissertation is that Latino fathers have the most to say during interviews, but we don’t hear their voices enough. We need to do more work listening to and elevating fathers’ experiences of raising children with disabilities,” said Fernandez.
Fernandez integrates the College of Education’s values into her work through sustained advocacy, community engagement, and a commitment to educational justice. As program coordinator for the CHIME grant with Professor Emerita Michelle Parker-Katz, she supported scholars preparing to become early childhood special educators, helping them navigate both academic expectations and the broader UIC community. She also serves as a departmental representative to the Graduate Student Council and regularly participates in orientation panels for incoming students.
Outside the university, Fernandez is a preschool special education teacher at Sawyer Elementary School, which she attended as a child. There, she created an ongoing parent workshop series for families of children with disabilities, offering resources, building community, and creating a supportive space for caregivers. She hopes to grow this work into a broader citywide effort.
Deeply rooted in the Chicago community, Fernandez plans to continue her work in early childhood special education while also teaching and mentoring future educators in higher education. Across her roles as teacher, researcher, advocate, and mentor, she exemplifies the leadership, dedication, and service honored by the Dean’s Merit Award.