Justin D. Garwood

Justin D. Garwood

Justin D. Garwood, PhD, is a professor of special education at the University of Vermont (UVM). He is a former secondary English teacher and K–12 special education teacher. At UVM, he teaches courses on behavior management, emotional and behavioral disorders, and statistics. Dr. Garwood is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children and has won its esteemed Early Career Publication Award in 2018, as well as the Martin J. Kaufman Distinguished Early Career Research Award in 2025.

Additional accolades from the University of Vermont include the Joseph A. Abruscato Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship in 2022 and the Prelock Online Teaching Award for Excellence in Synchronous Remote Teaching in 2024. Dr. Garwood’s strong belief in a relationship-based pedagogical approach responsive to students’ needs and a culture of high expectations has resulted in marked improvement in the educational experiences of students with disabilities, as well as the professional development of pre- and in-service teachers.

He has presented throughout the United States on topics ranging from developing a culture of high expectations to implementing support systems for students struggling academically and behaviorally. Dr. Garwood has received over $5 million in federal grants to support his research agenda focused on student mental health.

Dr. Garwood received dual bachelor’s degrees in both English and criminal justice from the State University of New York Brockport in 2004, a master’s degree in secondary education from Vanderbilt University in 2010, and a doctorate in special education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2015.