Wendy Cavendish joined the University of Miami faculty in 2007 after serving as research faculty at the Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University. She earned her Ph.D. in special education with a cognate in criminology and her M.S. in reading and learning disabilities from the University of Miami. She earned a B.A in anthropology and English literature from Lawrence University.

Cavendish’s teaching experience includes secondary reading and English in general, special, alternative, and adult education, and undergraduate and graduate courses in special education and criminology and public policy.

Her research focuses on factors that impact successful transition from school for general, special, and juvenile justice education students. Her research interests include both youth and school level factors that contribute to secondary and post school success for general and special education students and the relationship between special education and juvenile justice education. Additional research interests include the interaction of family and school systems and students’ educational and behavioral outcomes.

Dr. Cavendish’s work has been published in the Journal of Special Education as well as numerous research reports and conference proceedings. She is an active member of the American Educational Research Association, the Council for Exceptional Children, and the American Society of Criminology.