Kari Sassu, Ph.D., is the Interim Dean of the College of Education at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). Dr. Sassu joined the faculty of SCSU in January 2010, as an Assistant Professor in the Counseling and School Psychology Department, and soon thereafter became a Program Coordinator. As an Associate Professor, she was named as the Director of the Center of Excellence on Autism Spectrum Disorders, and as Full Professor, she became the Founding Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. While serving in these roles, Dr. Sassu engaged in innovative and collaborative interdisciplinary projects involving members of the campus community and various communities outside of such. Prior to joining the faculty of SCSU, Dr. Sassu was employed by the Center for Behavioral Education and Research as well as the Institute for Urban School Improvement at the University of Connecticut. There, she served as the Implementation Coordinator of System-Wide Positive Behavioral Supports across multiple urban school districts throughout the state of Connecticut. Dr. Sassu’s professional history also includes service as a public school practitioner and work within a private practice of pediatric neuropsychologists. Outside of her professional work, Dr. Sassu is committed to service within the larger community. Currently, she serves on multiple state-level boards, including the Autism Spectrum Disorders Advisory Council for the Department of Social Services, the Institutional Review Board for the Department of Developmental Disabilities, and the Board of Directors for Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement. Dr. Sassu also served on her local Board of Education for eight years. In 2022, she  received a Presidential Citation from American Psychological Association for her work facilitating positive experiences and community connection for individuals with autism. Dr. Sassu earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Psychological Services, both from the University of Pennsylvania. She holds both a Master’s degree and Sixth Year Professional Diploma in School Psychology from the University of Connecticut, a Sixth Year Professional Diploma in Educational Leadership from Southern Connecticut State University, and a doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Connecticut. She is a licensed psychologist, a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), and holds certifications as both a school psychologist and a school administrator in the state of Connecticut.