STATEMENT OF GOALS
I would like to join the AAIDD Board of Directors to support the advancement of forward-looking research, policies, and practice to enhance the lives of people with IDD and their families through the active involvement of AAIDD members. As a board member, I would like to increase the involvement of students and early career professionals from a variety of backgrounds in the activities of AAIDD. I also want to encourage and support collaboration within AAIDD and with outside partners to increase the visibility of AAIDD and the engagement of our membership. As a sibling of a brother with IDD, I would like to invite and welcome diverse perspectives to develop a more holistic understanding of people with IDD, their families, and their communities. Specific to the Secretary-Treasurer position, my goal is to maintain efficient operations and financial stability of the association by keeping clearly written and organized records.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:
Current Position:
Research associate, University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration
Adjunct faculty member, College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota
Previous Positions:
Tenured Associate Professor, Department of Inclusive Services and Exceptional Learners at Ashland University in Ohio
Special Education Teacher, Columbus High School in Nebraska
Group home staff member, Transfiguration, a disability service provider in Nebraska
Education:
PhD – Educational Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
MEd – Special Education, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
BA – German all from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
AAIDD Participation:
- AAIDD Fellow
- President, Religion & Spirituality Interest Network
- Former Co-chair, AAIDD Student and Early Career Professional Interest Network
- Served many Conference Planning Committees and Review Panels
- Participated in AAIDD Delegations
- Member, Editorial Board of Inclusion
- Peer Reviewer for IDD and AJIDD
Activities/Awards:
- University Libraries Influence Award recipient, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
- Currently serve as a Board member for Accord, a disability service provider
- Served on the Ohio SIBS Board of Directors for many years
- Participated in the National Goals in Research, Practice, and Policy meeting, 2015
- Served as the Associate Editor for the journal American Secondary Education