Sarah Manchanda is pursuing a PhD in School Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. Her lived experiences as a disabled woman of color shape her research interests, clinical work, and advocacy efforts in graduate school. Sarah is driven by a firm commitment to promote inclusive learning for all students. She believes that meaningful inclusion encompasses social and emotional wellbeing, and this is her primary area of focus. Her current research interests include (a) Peer victimization based on disability and race; (b) Promoting the capacity of teachers and peer bystanders through moral reasoning; and (c) Critical pedagogy, transformative social and emotional learning, and moral education as interventions to address stigma-based bullying.
Prior to starting her PhD at UC Berkeley, Sarah taught for three years as a Special Education teacher in Washington, D.C., public schools. After teaching, she spent two years working as a curriculum developer and coach for an NGO in Andhra Pradesh, India (the Rishi Valley Institute for Educational Resources)
Specializations and Interests
Disability and Education, Critical Pedagogy, Teacher Recruitment and Retention, Social and Emotional Learning
