Dr. Karen Colucci is a faculty member in the Department of Special Education whose research and professional interests focus on teacher education, case-based instruction, partnerships and mentor development. She earned her B.S. and M.S. in special education from Florida State University and her Ph.D. in special education from the University of South Florida in 1994. Prior to joining the faculty at USF, she taught students with Varying Exceptionalities, Severe Emotional Disturbance, and Learning Disabilities at the elementary and middle school level.

Currently, Dr. Colucci serves as the Principal Investigator for Project ExCEED and coordinates the Master of Arts in Teaching program along with Dr. Elizabeth Doone. While at USF, Dr. Colucci has served as Project Coordinator for the Professional Development School without Walls, a federally-funded project that established sustainable partnerships between the Department of Special Education and the Hillsborough and Pasco County School Districts . She also directed, along with Dr. Betty Epanchin, the Clearinghouse for Special Education Teaching Cases.