Committees
Committee Calls for Applications
CEC Convention Co-Chairs for 2025-2026 Program Advisory Committee
The application deadline for CEC Convention Co-Chairs for 2025-2026 Program Advisory Committee is 11:59 pm Eastern, January 5, 2024.
Apply for the Leadership Development Committee
Three-year terms begin Sept. 1, 2024. The deadline for receipt of Phase 1 applications is 11:59 pm ET, January 16, 2024. View the committee job description in the dropdown below.
Learn more about the LDC and preview the application.
Join one of the live Q&A sessions to get answers to your questions about applying for, and serving on, the Leadership Development Committee.
Interested in other volunteer opportunities? If you don’t want to apply for a committee, check out our new Volunteer Square. There are a variety of ways to engage locally and nationally, and through short- and long-term projects.
Standing Committees
The Finance and Audit Standing Committee addresses the financial stability of CEC and recommends to the Board of Directors the action to be taken on the annual program plan and budget. Other duties relate to the review of financial policies. The Committee is chaired by the Treasurer. The President Elect also serves as a member of the committee.
| Name | Professional Role | State/Province | Term Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Lesh, Ph.D., Treasurer & Chair | Associate Professor, Lynn University | FL | 2025 |
| Kareem Thompson, Ed.D., President Elect, Ex officio | Assistant Principal for Curriculum, Congress Middle School | FL | 2023 |
| Julie Bost, Ed.D. | Clinical Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator, Department of Specialized Education Services, UNC Greensboro | NC | 2023 |
| Mark Francis, Ed.S. | CEO/Owner, FYI-CSI, L.L.C. | MI | 2023 |
| Margaret Blackwell, M.Ed. | Special Education Supervisor, National Heritage Academies | NC | 2024 |
| Laura Nugent, Ed.D. | Director of Special Education, Addison Central School District | VT | 2024 |
| Darla Gundler, M.A. | Associate Director, Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC) | MA | 2025 |
| Diana Morales, Ph.D. | Exceptional Student Education Coordinator, Miami-Dade Virtual School | FL | 2025 |
View the Committee Job Description
View the Treasurer's Job Description
Contact the committee staff liaison with questions or for more information.
The purpose of the Leadership Development Committee is to identify, nurture, and develop leadership potential and skills in emerging leaders. Its duties include intentionally identifying, cultivating, recruiting, and orienting a well-qualified and diverse pipeline of volunteer leaders for board and committee positions that are responsive to the current and future needs of CEC.
| Name | Professional Role | State/Province | Term Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wendy Gonzales, Ph.D., Co-Chair | Assistant Professor, Special Education, College of Education, Northeastern Illinois University | IL | 2024 |
| Laura Nugent, Ed.D., Co-Chair | Director of Special Education, Addison Central School District | VT | 2024 |
| Kimberly Moffett, Ph.D. | Associate Professor of Special Education, Lee University | TN | 2024 |
| Will Hunter, Ed.D. | Associate Professor of Special Education, University of Memphis | TN | 2024 |
| Cassie Frost, M.S.Ed., Vice Co-Chair | Assistive Technology Specialist, Educational Consultant, Disruptive Teaching | WI | 2025 |
| Jen Katz-Borrin, M.S., Vice Co-Chair | Director of Student Services, School Administrative Unit # 20 (NH) | ME | 2025 |
| Nichole Moore, Ed.S. | Director of Special Services, Walled Lake Consolidated Schools | MI | 2025 |
| Natasha Veale, Ph.D. | Dean, School of Social Sciences and Education, Greensboro College | NC | 2025 |
| Karen Akom, Ed.D. | Director of Field Operations, Virginia Commonwealth University RRTC’s Center on Transition Innovations | VA | 2026 |
| Tammy Barron, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor, Western Carolina University; Special Education Administrator at WCU’s laboratory school | NC | 2026 |
| Marissa Kase, Ed.D. | Exceptional Student Education Teacher, Palm Beach County School District (Grade levels 1st through 5th) | FL | 2026 |
| Pam Peterson, M.S.Ed. | Special Education Consultant, Souris Valley Special Services | ND | 2026 |
View the Committee Job Description
Contact the committee staff liaison.
Read the 2019 Annual Report and 2019 Top Achievements.
Read the 2018 Annual Report.
Charge: Organize, implement, and evaluate volunteer leadership training and orientation programs; create communications plans and marketing/promotional activities and events related to volunteer leadership within CEC; and to facilitate attracting, preparing and retaining volunteer leaders within CEC units and divisions.
| Name | Professional Role | State/Province | Term Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mikki Garcia, Ed.D., Chair | Complaint Investigator, Georgia Department of Education | FL | 2024 |
| Kimberly Moffett, Ph.D. | Associate Professor of Special Education, Lee University | TN | 2024 |
| Laura Nugent, Ed.D., Co-Chair | Director of Special Education, Addison Central School District | VT | 2024 |
| Jonté (JT) Taylor, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University, Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education | PA | 2024 |
| Rachel Brown, Ph.D. | Associate Professor of Special Education, University of Southern Maine | ME | 2025 |
| Will Hunter, Ed.D. | Associate Professor of Special Education, University of Memphis | TN | 2025 |
| LaKisha Stanley, M.Ed. | DHH Special Student Services, Cobb County School District | GA | 2026 |
| Jennifer Webb, Ph.D. | Chair of the Department of Education, Associate Professor of Education, Malone University | OH | 2026 |
Advisory Committees
Charge
The Convention Program Advisory Committee (PAC) is an advisory group assists CEC staff with the planning and development of the annual convention program. The PAC is responsible for bringing a comprehensive and balanced program that will provide the highest quality professional development that addresses the varied interests and needs of convention attendees. Along with CEC staff, the PAC works to improve the quality and diversity of presentations and improve the convention program planning process.
The PAC Co-Chairs represents a practitioner working in a school or early intervention agency and an individual from academia. The committee is comprised of a representative from each of the Council's special interest divisions and other individuals selected by CEC staff based on expertise and convention program topic area. Each division selects its own representative to serve as a member of this advisory group.
Members and Division/Topical Area Represented
- Lisa Dieker, Co-Chair (Higher Ed)
- Nicole Barrion, Chair (Practitioner)
- Ramona Lee, CASE
- Erin Maguire, CASE
- Emily Smith, CEDS
- Timothy Landrum, DEBH
- Brian Barber, DEBH
- Kathleen Puckett, CEC-DLL
- Candace Borger, CEC-DLL
- Alyssa Marcum, CCC-DPHMD
- Allison Kroesch, CCC-DPHMD
- Audrey Sorrells, CEC-DR
- Jessica Toste, CEC-DR
- Leah Wood, DADD
- Cindy Perras, DADD
- Kathleen Farrand, DARTS
- Anna Paulson, DCD
- Dana Kan, DCD
- Dale Matusevich, DCDT
- Stacie Dojonovic, DCDT
- Christopher Cormier, DDEL
- Dosun Ko, DDEL
- Megan Purcell, DEC
- Jenna Weglarz Ward, DEC
- Clara Hauth, DISES
- Paul Riccomini, DLD
- Adam Graves, DVIDB
- Kathy Stanfa, DVIDB
- Don McMahon, ISET
- Alex Hollingshead, ISET
- Wendy Behrens, TAG
- Margaret (Peggy) Weiss, TED
- Brannan Meyers, TED
- Lisa Goran, Accountability Systems (IDEA/ESSA) for Children and Youth with Disabilities
- Tammy Barron, Collaboration and Inclusive Practices
- Kelly Carrero, Maltreatment
- David Peyton, Measuring Special Education Teacher Effectiveness
- Elizabeth Bettini, Measuring Special Education Teacher Effectiveness
- Jessica Toste, MTSS
- Shana Haines, Parent/Family/School Partnerships
- Jessica Monahan, Starting the Teaching Career
- Paul Riccomini, STEM
Contact the committee staff liaison with questions or for more information.
The Diversity Committee is charged with providing leadership and guidance on ways to promote and support inclusivity, equity, and justice. This includes developing, reviewing, and recommending programs and resources that are supportive to the CEC membership; especially, those from marginalized, historically underserved, and underrepresented populations. CEC views diversity to include identity markers such as race, ethnicity, culture, language, dialect, age, ability, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion/spirituality, geographic location, national origin, education, and professional role.
| Name | Professional Role | State/Province | Term Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keishana Barnes, M.Ed., Co-Chair | PhD Candidate & Assistant Professor of Teaching, University of Memphis | TN | 2024 |
| April McClain, B.A., Co-Chair | NC Family Child Care Professional Development Anchor, Southwestern Child Development Commission | NC | 2024 |
| Tameka Burroughs, Ed.D. | Special Education Department Chair, Fairfax County Public Schools / VCU | VA | 2025 |
| Carlos Lavin, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor, College of Charleston | SC | 2025 |
| Nicole Green, M.Ed. | Special Education Teacher, Scarsdale Middle School | NY | 2026 |
| Nikita McCree, Ph.D. | Post Doctoral Fellow, University of Missouri | MO | 2026 |
View the Committee Job Description
Contact the committee staff liaison with questions or for more information.
Committee Charge
- Serve an advisory function to the Board of Directors and staff on the mutual implication and impact of activities of CEC and divisions.
- Facilitate collaboration and communication among divisions and between divisions and CEC.
- Provide leadership to enhance the functioning and benefits offered by divisions and the diversity of the association’s members.
- Make proposals to enhance structural, functional and policy relations between CEC and divisions and among/within divisions.
- Facilitate division member recruitment, engagement and retention initiatives.
- Act as a facilitator in resolution of disputes among divisions.
- Review division annual reports and ensure compliance with all CEC policies.
Members
| Name | Division Size Represented | Professional Role | State/Province | Term Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ted Burke, B.S., Co-Chair | Small | Consultant | HI | 2023 |
| Juliann Dorff, M.A., Co-Chair | Large | Senior Lecturer, Kent State University, School of Art | OH | 2023 |
| Sheila Bailey, Ph.D. | Small | Executive Director, Virginia Council of Administrators of Special Education | VA | 2024 |
| Jugnu Agrawal, Ph.D. | Large | Program Manager, Fairfax County Public Schools | VA | 2024 |
| Chelsea Guillen, M.A. | Small | Early Intervention Ombudsman, EI Training Program, University of Illinois | IL | 2025 |
| Parthenia Cogdell, M.A. | Large | Retired | NJ |
2025 |
View the Committee Job Description
Contact the committee staff liaison with questions or for more information.
Committee Charge:
- Promote and enhance the educational, advocacy, and outreach goals of CEC by planning and overseeing a development program.
- Create awareness within the CEC membership, stakeholders, divisions/units as fundraising teams, external partner organizations.
- Create ongoing communication with donors and potential donors; shape development strategies and plans; monitor results against the development plan.
- Ensure that the organization is investing strategically and appropriately in its fundraising program.
- Develop and regularly review policies and procedures (including ethical standards and organizational accountability) for all development activities of CEC.
Members
| Name | Professional Role | State/Province | Term Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Bogdan, Ed.D., Chair | Educational Leadership Consultant | VA | 2025 |
| Kurt Hulett, Ph.D. | Special Education Consultant and Author | TX | 2025 |
| Danielle Kovach, Ed.D. | Special Education Teacher, Tulsa Trail Elementary School | NJ | 2025 |
| Susan Fowler, Ph.D. | Professor Emerita, University of Illinois, Department of Special Education | IL | 2024 |
| Jennifer Lesh, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Exceptional Student Education, Lynn University | FL | 2024 |
| Denise Griffin, Ed.D. | Special Education Teacher, Little Axe High School | OK | 2024 |
| Laural Jackson, EDL | Grants Manager and Education Consultant, Delta/Greely School District | AK | 2024 |
| Angie Jasper, Ph.D. President, Ex officio | Professor, Department of Teacher and Special Education, Central Michigan University | MI | 2024 |
| Luann Purcell, Ed.D. | Consultant | GA | 2024 |
Contact the committee staff liaison with questions or for more information.
The Honors Committee selects the recipients of the CEC Professional Awards. The Honors Committee also periodically reviews the CEC Awards program and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors for enhancements.
| Name | Professional Role | State/Province | Term Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anita Granger, Ed.D., Co-Chair | Educational Diagnostician, Calcasieu Parish School Board/Assistant Professor, Southern New Hampshire University | LA | 2023 |
| James “Jimmy” Nuse, Ed.S., Co-Chair | Director of Special Education, Ionia Public Schools | MI | 2023 |
| Martin De Anda, M.Ed. | Special Education Transition and Career Teacher, Pulley Career Center, Fairfax County Public Schools | VA | 2024 |
| Denise Fountain, M.A. | Director of Special Education, Pontiac School District #429 | IL | 2024 |
| Mina Chun, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor, California Lutheran University | CA | 2025 |
| Jaimee Miller, B.S. | Special Programs Compliance Manager, StrongMind | NC | 2025 |
Contact the committee staff liaison with questions or for more information.
Charge:
- Develop recommendations for consideration by CEC’s Board of Directors with regard to special education legislative and regulatory issues at the national level and provide information to units that may be relevant at the state or local level.
- Assist CEC in ensuring that the organizations’ position statements are current, relevant, reflect CEC’s mission and values and adhere to CEC’s Principles and Guidelines for Developing Position Statements.
- Stay informed about policy and legislative issues related to the education of infants, toddlers, children, and young adults with exceptionalities. NOTE: Day-to-day public policy functions are conducted by staff and consultants, reporting to the executive director. The committee will be provided with updates on impending or emerging issues.
Members:
| Name | Professional Role | State/Province | Term Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Yell, Ph.D., Chair | Chair in Teacher Education and a Professor in Special Education, University of South Carolina | SC | 2024 |
| Kim Osmani, Ph.D. | Senior Extension Associate, Project Director at Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations | NY | 2023 |
| Amanda Schwartz, Ph.D. | Consultant, Adjunct Professor, The George Washington University, and University Supervisor, Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education Program, University of Maryland | MD | 2023 |
| Jim Shriner, Ph.D. | Associate Professor, Department of Special Education, University of Illinois | IL | 2024 |
| Lisa Goran, Ph.D. | Director of Teacher Education and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Special Education, College of Education & Human Development, University of Missouri | MO | 2025 |
| Angelica Ramirez, M.Ed. | Exceptional Student Education Lead Administrator, Detroit Public School Community District | MI | 2025 |
Contact the committee staff liaison with questions or for more information.
Charge:
- Study the area of professional standards and their implication to CEC members and others involved in the education of children and youth with exceptionalities
- Advise the Board of Directors regarding CEC standards and related activities
- Develop guidelines and other materials to assist the field in meeting CEC professional standards
Members:
| Name | Professional Role | State/Province | Term Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dee Berlinghoff, Ph.D., Chair | Retired | NC | 2025 |
| Tammy Barron, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor, Western Carolina University; Special Education Administrator at WCU’s Laboratory School | NC | 2023 |
| Maria Peterson-Ahmad, Ph.D. | Associate Dean of Research, Inclusion, and Innovation / Associate Professor of Special Education. Texas Woman's University | TX | 2023 |
| Alex Keesling, M.A. | ASD Teacher Consultant, Genesee Intermediate School District | MI | 2024 |
| Kevin Miller, Ed.D. | Adjunct Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Special Education and Communication Disorders | NE | 2024 |
| Nastassia Rosas. Ed.D. | Special Education Coordinator, Harlandale ISD | TX | 2024 |
| Joanne Murphy Van Boxtel, Ph.D. | Associate Professor/Faculty Director for Special Education, Vanguard University, School of Education | CA | 2025 |
Contact the committee staff liaison with questions or for more information.
Committee Charge
Journals
- Recommend editorial policy of CEC’s two journals to the CEC Board of Directors
- Oversee journal editor selection (for approval by CEC Board of Directors)
- Provide feedback on annual reports of editors
- Provide general oversight and support for the editors
- Ensure the high quality of CEC journals as a trusted source of research findings that support and enhance advances in the field and facilitate putting research into practice
- Ensure equity in editor and reviewer selection, as well as in published authors
Publications and Products
- General oversight of books other publications published and sold by CEC
- Direct a regular needs assessment, market research and product evaluation to set publishing priorities
- Recommend strategies for solicitation, review, and approval of new publications, as well as ongoing review of current publications’ viability
- Monitor the relationships between CEC publications; specifically, potential issues of overlap, competition, and/or, redundancy
- Promote equity and engagement of diverse members in publications-related activities
- Incorporate input from subject matter experts as needed to ensure diversity of ideas and topics in publications
Members
- Brittany Hott, Co-Chair
- Victor Torres, III, Co-Chair
- Mildred Boveda
- Kimberly Buenger
- Kimberly Bunch-Crump
- Christopher Cormier
- Michael Kennedy
- L. Lynn Stansberry Brusnahan
- Katie Veneziale
- Meredith Walling
Contact the committee staff liaison with questions or for more information.
The Student and Early Career Committee advises the Board of Directors on ways to recruit, mentor, and support individuals entering the profession, especially those from diverse backgrounds, and enhance the experience of student and early-career CEC members. It also plans and conducts a Student and Early Career Special Educator Forum and/or other events relevant to students and early-career teachers at the annual CEC Convention & Expo, providing opportunities for student attendees to engage with CEC in order to improve their practice, network with peers, and maximize their experience.
(PS) = Pre-service; (EC) = Early Career
| Name | Professional Role | State/Province | Term Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lindsay Griendling, Ph.D., Co-Chair (EC) | Assistant Professor, Appalachian State University | NC | 2024 |
| Ashley Virgin, Co-Chair (PS) | Assistant Professor of Special Education, Athens State University | AL | 2024 |
| Shasta Brooks (EC) | Special Education Teacher, Nine Mile Falls School District | WA | 2025 |
| Christina Fligner (PS) | Intervention Specialist, New Albany-Plain Local Schools | OH | 2025 |
| Abby Camara (PS) | Undergraduate Student, Central Michigan University | MI | 2026 |
| Sarah Hornback, B.S. (EC) | Special Education Teacher, Avon Community School Corporation | IN | 2026 |
View the Committee Job Description
Contact the committee staff liaison with questions or for more information.
The Yes I Can Committee publicizes the Yes I Can Awards to ensure outstanding entries; seeks and solicits nominations; evaluates the nominees for each category; select recipients; and periodically reviews award categories and criteria.
Name Professional Role State/Province Term Expiration Alyssa Marcum, Co-Chair Special Education Teacher, Alexandria City Public Schools VA 2023 Helen Flores, Co-Chair Graduate Student, Florida International University FL 2023 Erika Pinter Assistant Professor, Winona State University MN 2024 Mariya Davis Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University, San Antonio TX 2024 Emily Hardeman Graduate Student, University of Texas TX 2025 Michelle Buchanan Clinical Instructor, University of Central Arkansas AR 2025
View the Committee Job Description
Contact the committee staff liaison with questions or for more information.
