Craig & Sharon Fiedler

Craig Fiedler had a long journey to becoming a special education professor. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Law in 1977. He began a two-year career as a legal services attorney in Appalachia, but eventually decided being a lawyer was not fulfilling. Craig moved back to his hometown of La Crosse to become involved in advocacy work for people with developmental disabilities and earned a master’s degree in special education from UW-La Crosse in 1982.

Wanting to teach at the university level, Craig enrolled in a doctoral program in special education at Kansas University, earning his Ph.D. in 1985. His first university teaching position was at the University of New Hampshire where he was a faculty member for two years. He then accepted a faculty position within the department of special education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he taught from 1987 until his retirement in 2008. In addition to his work as a special education professor, Craig also held administrative positions at UW Oshkosh, including interim associate vice chancellor, interim dean for the College of Education and Human Services, and chair of the special education department.

Throughout his career, Craig managed an active research and writing agenda on the issues of special education law, ethics, supporting and empowering families of children with disabilities, advocacy, and inclusion. Craig’s passion for teaching future special education teachers was fueled by his experiences as a parent of a daughter with multiple severe disabilities.

Craig received several honors from UW Oshkosh, including the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1994, an Endowed Professorship in 1998, and the Rosebush Professorship in 2000. In 2003, Craig was appointed by Governor Jim Doyle to serve a four year term on the Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities. Craig passed away from cancer in 2009.

The Dr. Craig Fiedler Scholarship was established in 2008 by Craig’s family, friends and colleagues. It was initiated by members of the special education department in appreciation for the significant contributions he made to the field of special education, the department, and the University community. Craig’s commitment to individuals with disabilities has been demonstrated as a parent, teacher, advocate, and administrator. This scholarship is intended to recognize those who have demonstrated substantial commitment to advocacy in support of individuals with disabilities.