Dr. Geoff Schultz

Professor, Educational Psychology
and Special Education
Annex-147
219-989-2045
schultzg@purduecal.edu

Geoff Schultz, Ed.D, is a Professor in Educational Psychology and Special Education in the Department of Teacher Preparation at Purdue University Calumet (PUC). He taught for ten years in public school classrooms with children with special needs in the western suburbs of Chicago, as well as in Rockford, Illinois.

Dr. Schultz earned a bachelor's degree in psychology at Beloit College in Wisconsin. His graduate training was done in Educational Psychology and Special Education at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb where he was mentored by Dr. Harvey N. Switsky. Other mentors include Dr. Marie Hopkins at Marygrove College and Dr. Jose Rosario at Indiana University.

Dr. Schultz's areas of research and writing have focused primarily in the area of motivational and learning. During the last twenty years, his writings have centered on efficacy beliefs in young children and how these motives impact on the achievement of urban students. More recently, he has examined the efficacy beliefs of teachers and how these factors shape the development of teacher competency and ultimately practice in the classroom.

Dr. Schultz's has taught courses in special education, educational psychology, and assessment. He was inducted into the prestigious Faculty Colloquium on Excellence in Teaching in 2001 as a faculty member in the Indiana University system. He has received recognition for excellence in teaching from the Board of Trustees of Indiana University. He was also recognized with the Indiana University Founders' Day Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Dr. Schultz served as an administrative law judge for the Division of Special Education in Indiana from 1992 to 1997. During that time, he oversaw the resolution of approximately 30 due process disputes between public schools and parents of children with special needs. This work eventually led him to begin working as a parent advocate in Indiana and Illinois.

He recently stepped down as Head in the Department of Teacher Preparation at PUC. He served in this role from 2004 to 2008. He is now program co-chair in Elementary Education. He also currently serves on the Indiana Board of Examiners (BOE) for the Division of Professional Standards in Indianapolis.