Heather L Walter, Ed.D, is an Assistant Professor of Special Education, a Senior Scholar for the Center for the Advancement of Wellbeing, and an Educational Consultant. Her expertise builds upon over 15 years in diverse education settings cultivating the unique strengths of individuals, and communities by partnering and providing support in the recruitment and retention of highly qualified educators and the wellbeing and sustainability of educational systems. Her primary goal is to support those who care for and educate children and youth in making evidence-based decisions that close the opportunity gap- that leads to thriving, and balanced educational outcomes. Walter is engaged in federally funded research, has published in both practitioner and research top tier journals, as well as sits on local, regional, and national education organizations. Dr. Walter has been recognized for the 2021 Dissertation Award in Mixed Methods for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and her contributions to policy research through the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) and won an Exhange Leaders Award through the Exchange Leaders Initiative in 2021.