Executive Director and CEO
Margaret A. Nygren, EdD, Executive Director & CEO of AAIDD since 2010, is responsible for the executive direction, leadership, and management of operations of the organization. Dr. Nygren oversees the organization’s core functions of education,
publications, public policy, and member services. In addition, she serves on a number of national advisory and scientific committees and frequently speaks at regional, national, and international conferences and events.
Prior to her work at AAIDD, Dr. Nygren held two
progressively-responsible positions at the Association of University
Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), concluding her service to the
organization as the Associate Executive Director for Program
Development. In these roles, she secured substantial federal grant and
contract funds and directed multiple federally-funded research,
technical assistance, training, and dissemination projects for more than
100 major research universities engaged in academic and service
activities in the field of intellectual, developmental, and other
disabilities.
Her additional previous positions include a Fellowship in the Disabled
and Elderly Health Programs Group at the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS) in Baltimore, Director of the Center on Aging
and Disabilities at the Lieutenant Joseph P. Kennedy Institute in
Washington, DC, and Director of Family Support Services and Director of
Mental Retardation Services at Kit Clark Senior Services in Boston.
Dr. Nygren earned a Doctorate of
Education from Nova Southeastern
University, a master's in Clinical Psychology from West Virginia University,
and a bachelor's in Psychology from Beloit College. In 2021, she completed a Certificate in Diversity
and Inclusion at Cornell University.
Her recent honors include the Distinguished Service Citation from the Beloit College Alumni Association (2017), Fellow of the AAIDD (2018), Helen Thompson
Memorial Award by the AAIDD Louisiana Chapter (2019), National Honoree by the National Historic Recognition Project (2020; for
significant national contributions in the field of intellectual and
developmental disabilities in the US between 2000 and 2020), and
Advocate Hero by EP Magazine (2021; one of 50 named in honor of its 50th anniversary of publication).