Rate My Professor Trey Vasquez

Eleazar “Trey” Vasquez III, Ph.D., served as Professor of Exceptional Student Education at the University of Central Florida (UCF) from 2019 to 2025, following promotions from Assistant Professor in 2008 and Associate Professor in 2014. He also directed the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute from 2017 to 2025 and coordinated the Exceptional Education Ph.D. Program from 2019. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D), Vasquez holds a Ph.D. in Disability Disciplines from Utah State University (2008), an M.A. in School and Behavioral Psychology (2003), and a B.S. (2000), both from Stephen F. Austin State University. Prior to academia, he worked as a K-12 special education coordinator, school psychologist, and resource math teacher.

His research interests center on the use of innovative technologies to improve academic and behavioral outcomes for students with disabilities, especially in STEM education. Funded by more than $17.5 million in grants from the National Science Foundation and the Office of Special Education Programs, his projects address inclusive practices in K-12 and postsecondary settings. Notable publications include “The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Special Education Technology” (Marino et al., 2023), “Navigating AI-Powered Personalized Learning in Special Education: A Guide for Preservice Teacher Faculty” (Holman et al., 2024), “Unions as Change Agents: Washington Education Association’s Pioneering Approach to Special Education Teacher Preparation” (Marino et al., 2025), and “Using Universal Design for Learning to Support Students with Disabilities in a Scale-Up Physics Course” (James et al., 2021). Vasquez has earned the American Council on Education Fellowship (2021-2022), UCF Luminary Award (2024), multiple UCF Research Incentive Awards, and the Council for Exceptional Children Special Education Research Award (2025). He chaired UCF’s Promotion and Tenure Committee, served on university task forces, and contributes to editorial boards of Rural Special Education Quarterly and Journal of Educational Technology & Society. His work has shaped national discussions on digital equity and teacher preparation for diverse learners.