Lindy J. Johnson is a 3rd year Ph.D. student in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education at Michigan State University, where she is a recipient of a National Center for Leadership in Intensive Intervention Fellowship.

Prior to the doctoral journey, Lindy worked in the Michigan public schools as an elementary teacher and reading interventionist. She served on the school’s MTSS team, provided staff training in reading assessment, and built relationships with families. She is a proud first-generation college graduate, earning her Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Calvin University and her Bachelor of Science (summa cum laude) in psychology from Central Michigan University.

Guided by a dis/ability critical race (DisCrit) theoretical framework and utilizing both critical quantitative (QuantCrit) and qualitative methodological approaches, Lindy's research focuses on the intersections of language, literacy, and assessments, and how these are impacted by structural inequity and systemic oppressions such as racism and ableism. Her work aims to understand how these factors shape the lives of students who are marginalized by the educational system. The goal of this research is to promote social justice and increase equal learning opportunities for these students. She accomplishes this by examining current special education policies and practices, developing partnerships between schools and communities, and envisioning assessment practices that are equitable for all students.

Scholarly Interests