Laurie L. Wellner is the Deputy Chair of the Education and Special Education program in the Graduate School of Education at Touro University in New York.  She specializes in teacher education, autism, special education and organizational leadership, ADHD, trust theory and ethics in education, and the successful communication and collaboration with stakeholders for the improvement of the educational process. Dr. Wellner has over 30 years of experience in education spanning from public school service in California as a general and special education teacher and various special education administrative positions as well as faculty and leadership positions in higher education.  She earned her Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership at the University of La Verne in California.  Dr. Wellner is the author of several articles, book chapters, an edited book for early career teachers, a meta-analysis of the literature in the area of trust theory, a curriculum guide for Applied Behavior Analysis and often presents her research nationally and internationally including Cambridge University, UK, Ireland,  Los Angeles, and Hawaii. She regularly chairs dissertation research at the doctoral level and has been involved in accreditation proceedings with Western Association of Schools and Colleges, National Association of Teacher Education, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and has served on the California Advisory Committee for Cognia since 2017.  She is an avid speaker, being frequently requested by school sites, districts, charter schools, parent groups and other organizations.  Dr. Wellner is a passionate advocate for all students, their families, their teachers, and the successful relationships that are built and maintained for the success of all.