STATEMENT OF GOALS
I will work with the Board, the AAIDD Office, and the membership on the following goals:
- Collaborate with other national and regional disability organizations to advocate for federal policy enhancements/changes to better serve individuals with disabilities;
- Support the organization’s journals and the research community to promote high quality research and translational research to advance sciences pertaining to the education of, treatment of, and service to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
- Continue to develop and grow the AAIDD membership and promote members’ participation in AAIDD conferences;
- Continue to enhance the quality of the annual conference to address the emerging needs of the field and to meet the needs of the profession;
- Support cross-state and international collaborations to benefit the profession;
- Maintain the financial health of the organization.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:
Current Position:
Professor of Special Education, Director of Center on Disability and Development (A University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities), Texas A&M University
Education:
Associate Professor, Texas A&M University
Assistant Professor, Clemson University
Instructor, LSU Health Science Center
Education:
PhD - Special Education, University of New Orleans
MEd - Special Education, University of New Orleans
BA - Education, East China Normal University
AAIDD Participation:
- Served as Vice Chair and Chair of Education Interest Group
- Participated in a Committee to develop the Diagnostic Adaptive Behavior Scale (DABS)
- Participated and presented in AAIDD annual meetings
- Published in and reviewed for AAIDD journals
Activities/Awards:
- Fellow of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
- Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) 2020 George S. Jesien Distinguished Achievement Award
- Service to the Organization Award, Chair of the Council on Research and Evaluation and Board Member, Association of University Centers on Disabilities
- Outstanding Service Award: President, Division on Career Development and Transition, Council for Exceptional Children
- Outstanding Service Award, Texas Division on Career Development and Transition
- Texas A&M University Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement College-level Teaching Award