Faculty and Staff

Dr. Bakken serves as the chair of the Department of Special Education. Read his vita (pdf).

Dr. Bakken grew up in Middleton, Wisconsin where he attended elementary, junior high, and high school. He received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse in 1989. He completed a master’s degree in special education in the area of learning disabilities at Purdue University in 1990 and later received his doctorate degree in learning disabilities from Purdue University in 1995. He has been a fifth grade teacher as well as a resource room teacher working with students with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, and mental retardation at the elementary and secondary grade levels.

Dr. Bakken began his teaching career at Illinois State University in the spring of 1995 and has been here ever since. He is also the co-advisor of the student council for exceptional children organization on campus.