STATEMENT OF GOALS
If elected as a Member-at-Large of the AAIDD Board, my overall goal is to advance the AAIDD’s mission by strengthening the integration of research, practice, policy, and lived experience to promote autonomy, inclusion, and human and civil rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. First, I will prioritize expanding mentorship and leadership development pathways within AAIDD, particularly for students, early career professionals, and leaders from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Building sustainable leadership pipelines is essential to ensuring the future strength and diversity of AAIDD and the broader IDD field. Second, I will work to enhance AAIDD’s role in translating research into accessible, actionable guidance for disability leaders, family members, practitioners, and policymakers. By leveraging AAIDD’s dissemination platforms, Interest Networks, and organizational partnerships (e.g., Association of University Centers on Disabilities; AUCD), we can ensure evidence-based practices meaningfully inform systems change. Finally, I will advocate for strong cross-sector collaboration among self-advocates, family members, researchers, and practitioners.
I am committed to supporting AAIDD’s strategic goals while contributing to responsible governance, organizational sustainability, and inclusive and equitable decision-making.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:
Current Position:
Assistant Professor of Special Education, Department of Curriculum & Instruction, University of Arkansas
Previous Positions:
Assistant Research Professor, Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities, University of Kansas
Assistant Professor, Department of Special Education, University of Kansas
Education:
PhD, Special Education, University of Kansas
MEd, Special Education, Vanderbilt University
BS, Special Education, Boston University
AAIDD Participation:
Co-Chair, Research Interest Network (2024-present)
Member-at-Large, Research Interest Network (2021-2023)
Co-Chair, Student and Early Career Professionals Interest Network (2018-2020)
Secretary, Student and Early Career Professionals Interest Network (2017-2018)
Treasurer, Kansas Chapter of AAIDD (2016-2023)
Member, Consent and Decision-Making Strand, AAIDD National Goals Conference (2024)
Member, The Arc and AAIDD Self-Advocacy Position Statement Workgroup (2019)
Regular presenter, AAIDD Annual Conferences (2016-2025)
Committee Member, AAIDD Annual Conference Proposal Review Selection Committees (multiple years)
Activities/Awards:
Associate Editor, Inclusion
Co-author, AAIDD Issue Brief on Consent and Decision-Making (2025)
Lead author, Inclusion special issue contribution from AAIDD National Goals Conference 2024
Young Professional Award 2020 recipient, Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
Emerging Leaders Representative, Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Board of Directors (2017-2019)