Rama Cousik, Ph. D
Rama Cousik, Ph. D
Rama Cousik is an Associate Professor of Special Education in the department of Counseling and Graduate Education, School of Education, at Purdue University, Fort Wayne. She is the author of the book Empowered: Case studies in strengths-based inclusive education. She employs qualitative and arts-based research such as poetic inquiry and her research aims to highlight the voices of people with disabilities and their families. She is a community editor for the journal The Qualitative Report, published by Nova Southern University. Her publications have appeared qualitative research and disability studies journals like The Qualitative Report, Emerald Journal of Multicultural Education, Disability Studies Quarterly, and Psychology in Schools.
- EDU 56500 Collaboration & Service Delivery
- EDU 59501, Practicum in Special Education
- EDU 50501, Introduction To Special Education
- EDU 53300 Autism Spectrum Disorders and Evidence Based Practices
- EDU 52502, Characteristics, Laws, and Assistive Technology in Special Education
- EDU 50301 and EDU 50304, Intro to Educational Research
- EDU 30501 Teaching Exceptional Learners in Elementary Schools
- Cousik, R. & Mishra, P. (2025). Fostering Leadership in Children With Disabilities: Insights from adult leaders with disabilities. Psychology in Schools, 62 (10), 3835-385.
- Cousik, R. (2025). Empowered: Case studies in strengths-based inclusive education (2nd edition). Kendal Hunt Publications, USA.
- Cousik, R. (2022). COVID-19 pandemic and special education teacher voices. The Qualitative Report, 27(11), 2486-2500. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2022.5553
- Mishra, P. & Cousik, R (2021). Making Pandemic Response Disability-Inclusive: Challenges and Opportunities for Organizations. Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
- Cousik, R. & Maconochie, H. (2017). “Hey the tomatoes didn’t grow, but something else did!": Contesting containment, cultivating competence in children labeled with disabilities. Disability Studies Quarterly.
- Cousik, R., Mishra, P., & Rang, M (2017). Writing with the ‘Other’: Combining poetry and participation to study leaders with disabilities. The Qualitative Report, 22 (11), 3039-3054.
- Cousik, R. (2015). An international student perspective: Navigating Identities and conducting ethnography fieldwork in the U.S. Interactions: UCLA Journal of Education and Information Studies, 11(3), 1-18.
- Cousik, R. (2015). Cultural and functional diversity in the elementary classroom: strategies for teachers. Journal for Multicultural Education, 9(2), 54 – 67.
- Saunak, V. V & Cousik, R. (2026). Leveraging AI for instruction: Case Study Examples. Presented at the Midwest Conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning [SoTL], IUSB.
- Cousik, R. (2025). Workshop #1 “Inclusive Education Training Module for Key Stakeholders in India” conducted on zoom, for Sahara Health and Development Society, India.
- Cousik, R. (2025) “Mindfulness of Mindfulness”. Presented at Special Education Conference 2025, Kalahari Resort and Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI.
- Saunak, V. V & Cousik, R. (2025) A Case For AI Cases?: Evaluating Human Versus AI-Assisted Case Studies, presentation at Alliance Conference, PFW.
- Cousik, R. (2025). Mindfulness Practices For The Teacher And The Student, Presentation at the Teacher Education Division, CEC conference.
- Mishra, P. & Cousik, R. (2024). The Untapped Potential: Insights from Disabled Leaders Across Cultures. Presentation at the 26th International Leadership Association Global Conference, Chicago.
- Gerardot, A & Cousik, R. (2024). Forge Ahead! Technology in the Classroom-To Use or Not to Use? Presentation at 47th Annual TED Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.
- Christian, E. & Cousik, R. (2024). Educator Preparation: Engaging and Assessing Standout Students in the ECE Class. Presented at the Midwest Conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning [SoTL], 2024, IUSB.
- PFW Senate Library Subcommittee
- PFW Professional Development Subcommittee
- PFW Faculty Advisory Board Member, Brightspace,
- Curriculum Review Committee, SOE
- P and T committee SOE
- Member Academic Affairs Committee, SOE
- Volunteer YMCA children’s summer camp
- Community Editor, The Qualitative Report journal.