CASE Conf 2025

Kendra Williams-Diehm
Professor of Special Education; Director Zarrow Institute on Transition & Self-Determination
University of Oklahoma; Zarrow Institute on Transition & Self-Determination


Dr. Kendra Williams-Diehm is a Professor and Director with Zarrow Center for Learning Enrichment. Located within the Special education program in the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education at the University of Oklahoma. She holds both the Zarrow Family Endowed Chair and the Brian E. and Sandra L. O’Brien Presidential Professorship. Her primary research interests include comprehensive transition services with a focus on appropriate transition assessment and self-determination for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A secondary research interest focuses on assisting teachers in promoting the development of transition and self-determination for their students. Dr. Williams-Diehm has over 50 publications, including peer reviewed manuscripts in top educational journals, books chapters, and more - all centered around transition and self-determination. She has been awarded more the $25,500,000 in external funding, primarily through the US Dept of Education Office of Special Education Programs and Institute for Education Sciences. Prior to received her doctoral degree, Dr Williams-Diehm taught special education at both elementary and secondary level and still considered herself to be an educator first. In 2019, Dr. Williams-Diehm led efforts to establish the Sooner Works program at the University of Oklahoma. Sooner Works is a college program specifically designed for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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