Committees and Volunteer Service Activities
2019-2020
- 2019: Attend Pennsylvania Association of Teacher Educators (PAC-TE) Conference
- 2019: Reviewer for the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- 2019: Canvas Early Adopter
- 2019: Attended Freshman and Sophomore SPSEA How do I get into Upper Level Sessions
- 2019: Serve on dissertation committee for doctoral student at SRU
2018-2019
- 2018: Education Retreat May 2018: Work collaboratively on education curriculum
- 2018-2019: Member of the Assessment of Student Learning Committee 2017-2019
- 2018-2019: Member of Graduate Council (since fall 2013)
- 2018-2019: Member of Library Committee (since fall 2016)
- 2018: On Campus-Wide Traditions and Celebrations Work Group (fall 2018-2019)
- 2018-2019: Continue collaboration with Clairview WIU7 for Characteristics and Strategies II fieldwork
- 2018: Created new 1 credit IEP course
- 2018-2019: Continue on Editorial Board for Rural Special Education Quarterly: Hammill/Sage Publication
- 2018: Reviewer for the Journal of Research Initiatives
2017-2018
- 2017-2018: Continue collaborating with Dance Education Faculty for new collaborative course: Dance and Expression for Individuals with Disabilities and received approval for the new course in they spring of 2018 (course begins spring of 2019).
- 2017-2018: Continue on Editorial Board for Rural Special Education Quarterly: Hammill/Sage Publication (Reviewed 5 separate articles during the 2017-2018 year, 4 of which had multiple revisions)
- 2017-2018: As Graduate Program Director:
- Received approval for new Masters of Special Education: Autism Specialization starting Fall 2018
- Collaborating with Faculty on new Masters for Fall 2018: Innovative Instruction and received approval for new Masters of Innovative Instruction starting Fall 2018
- Conduct Information sessions: Both face-to-face and online
- Graduate Council Committee: Oversees all graduate curriculum development and revision and academic policies
- Continued University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg/Seton Hill University partnership for the Masters of Arts in Special Education program
- Work with University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg to streamline 5th year master’s degree for UPG students
- Continue Catalog changes and updates
- 2017-2018: Elected member of Assessment of Student Learning Committee 2017-2019
- 2017-2018: On Graduate Council (since fall 2013)
- 2017-2018: Continue on Library Committee (since fall 2016)
- 2017-2018: Continue work with Clairview WIU7 in implementing Project Max Unit Planning/Presuming Competency within school (several face-to-face meetings and continuing emails with Principal for student placement and unit plan work for cooperating teachers classroom)
- Students in ED209 Characteristics and Strategies II course conduct fieldwork within school
- Create Unit Plans complete with materials and instructor/teacher video overview of unit
- Implementing Year 3 of Survey information on inclusion and working with students with exceptional needs
- 2017: Attended Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators Conference (PACTE) October 25-27, 2017
- 2017: On Board of Directors for Easter Seals of Western and Central Pennsylvania 2014-2017
- 2017-2018: On Board of Director for American Council on Rural Special Education (ACRES) through-2018
- 2017-2018: Attend and participate in monthly Division and Major meetings and attend monthly Faculty Senate meetings
- 2017-2018: Attend Fall Convocation, Go Weekend, Sentonian Days, Celebration of Scholarship, Undergraduate and Graduate Commencements, Griffin Education Day, Open House, Spring Convocation, Celebration of Writing, Seton Hill’s Undergraduate Research Conference
- 2017-2018: Served as Faculty mentor for new faculty member in music
- 2017: Attended Grove City Institutes of Higher Education/LEA meeting: IHE and LEA collaborate to insure we are meeting the needs of today’s teachers and school districts
2016-2017
- 2016: Present:On Editorial Board on Rural Special Education Quarterly: Hammill/Sage Publication
- 2017: Collaborating with Dance Education Faculty for new collaborative Artistic Expression Course: Dance and Expression for Individuals with Disabilities
- 2016-2017: Advisor for two Honors Capstone Projects
- 2017: Guest reviewer (4/2017) Rural Special Education Quarterly
- 2017: Elected member of Assessment of Student Learning Committee 2017-2019
- 2016: The American Council for Rural Special Education (ACRES) conference proposal reviewer for the 2017 conference City Meets Country: Educators Working to Solve the Challenges of Special Education, reviewed 10 conference proposals (October 2016)
- 2016: Attend Pennsylvania Association of College and Teacher Educators (PAC-TE)
- 2016: Hiring committee for the new Assistant Professor and Director of Field Placement for the Education Division continued
- 2016-Present: Continue work on infusing Catholic Social Teaching into coursework and completion of CST project including CST presentation to the Board of Trustees for university (presentation October 2016)
- 2016-Present: Graduate Council Committee: Oversees all graduate curriculum development and revision and academic policies
- 2016-Present: Library Committee
- 2016: Guest reviewer (7/2017) Rural Special Education Quarterly
- 2016: Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) Project MAX’s Institutes of Higher Education (IHE): Presented with 7 undergraduate students on educating students with complex instructional needs (May, 2016)
- 2016- Present: University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg/Seton Hill University partnership for the Masters of Special Education program
- Work with University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg to streamline 5th year master’s degree for UPG students
- Advise and hold information sessions both online and at the UPG campus
- 2016: Guest reviewer 6/2016 and 7/2017 Rural Special Education Quarterly
2015-2016
- 2016-Present: Elected to Secretary for ACRES (American Council on Rural Special Education)
- 2015-Present: Library Committee, review policy and student and faculty needs
- 2015: The American Council for Rural Special Education (ACRES) conference proposal reviewer for the 2016 conference The High Stakes Game: Improving Student Outcomes for Rural and Urban Schools, reviewed 11 conference proposals
- 2015-Present: Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) Project MAX’s Institutes of Higher Education (IHE) invited member of 1st focus group
- To develop a culture of teaching, learning and high expectations for all students to be successful in the general education curriculum and PA Core Standards, empower school teams, build support, and capacity
- Part implementation in IHE to train pre-service teachers to work with students with complex instructional needs
- 2015-Present: Hiring Committee for new director for the Student Support Services program in the Student Success Department
- 2015-Present: Serve as new faculty mentor
- 2015-Present: Catholic Social Teaching: Professional Development Program: Attend CST all day workshop, email and meet with mentor, create, implement, and assess CST within coursework
- 2015: Attended two day Mental Health First Aid training and obtained Mental Health First Aid Certification (MHFA)
- 2015-Present: Chair Retention Committee’s Subcommittee on Academics:
- Committee proposal Griffin Orientation Weekend suggests the inclusion of an event for each division wherein representatives (e.g., selected faculty and upperclassmen) could meet with incoming freshmen and transfers as part of the Orientation Weekend to provide a bridge for faculty-student connections from day one.
- Committee proposal Freshman Advising “Package” working on Academic Alert System, faculty training for advising, and long term goal of “Freshman Advising Center”
- Created and sent to faculty questionnaire to obtain information on Academic Alert System
2014-2015
- 2014-2015: Begin collaboration with Intermediate Unit 7
- Reviewed document system for Early Intervention
- Organized university participation and participated in IU7’s Special Needs Fall Dance held at Clairview, October, 2014
- Organized student participation (along with Dr. Harris) in Kindergarten transition night at IU7 Administration building, December, 2014
- Organized university participation and participated in IU7’s Special Needs Winter Formal Dance held at Clairview, December, 2014
- 2014-2015: Created the materials and format for the first online information session for the Masters of Special Education Graduate Program held in collaboration with the Masters of Education Elem/Middle Level Program and the Office of Graduate and Adult Admissions
- 2015: Reviewer for journal Rural Special Education Quarterly
- 2014: Completed the materials to obtain state Autism Endorsement for current Autism Certificate/Specialization program and surveyed the education division for support
- 2014: As Graduate Program Director submitted and obtained Special Education 7-12 teaching Certificate for university-program approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education 2014
- 2014: Created Graduate Program overview video for full-time faculty and adjuncts teaching in the graduate special education program
- 2014: Wrote the content for the updated Masters of Special Education, Seton Hill website and related program information sheet
2013-2014
- 2014-Present: Elected to the Board of Directors for Easter Seals of Western and Central Pennsylvania June 2014-Present
- 2014: Hiring committee for Graduate and Adult Studies: Assistant Director
- 2014: Officer, Secretary: Pennsylvania’s Council for Exceptional Children, Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (PA CEC DADD)
- 2014: Guest reviewer (9/2014) Rural Special Education Quarterly
- 2013-Present: Graduate Council Committee: Oversees all graduate curriculum development and revision and academic policies.
- 2013-Present: Retention Committee Seton Hill University: Analyze data, discuss ideas, and submit recommendations to the President’s Council to aid the university in meeting specific retention goals.
- 2013-Present: Co-create, Co-operate and wrote proposal for IRB approved exceptional needs dance class; work with Dance Education and PreK-4/Special Education together to create a positive, individualized learning environment for young students with exceptional needs.
- Work with students from both departments to assist in learning communication skills necessary to work with families of children with exceptional needs and to break down barriers to successful communication
- Students presented at local state conference on experience gained from participation in the class
- Greensburg-Salem High School Life Skills classroom held special dance class session with students instructors and students within life skills classroom
- 2013: Created APA Help Guide utilizing PowerPoint to guide university students to properly use APA which is posted within graduate courses in education and on Seton Hill University’s Writing Center’s Website.
- 2013: Training Special Needs Competitive Cheer-leading Team: train volunteers of special needs cheer team to work with and support those individuals in their class with exceptional needs.
- 2013, 2012: Volunteer Labor of Love community service
- 2013-2015: In 2013 sponsored through Introduction to Exceptional Children course “Light it up Blue” bake sale with all proceeds to benefiting ABOARDS Autism Connection of PA (raised over $350.00) and in 2014 worked with Education club to sponsor 2nd annual “Light it up Blue” bake sale with all proceeds to benefiting ABOARDS Autism Connection of PA (raised over $355.00). In 2015 assisted Education club to sponsor 3rd annual event.
- 2013: Autism consultant with Canon-Mac School District (Spring, 2013) Multiple consulting sessions over spring regarding student with autism
2012-2013
- 2012-2013: Program Review Committee- Seton Hill University (2012-2013) Review of Special Education Graduate and Autism Certificate programs
- 2012: Volunteer Christmas on the Hill (December, 2012)
- 2012: Guest reviewer (7/2012) Rural Special Education Quarterly
- 2012-2013: PECT Special Education Test Prep Tutor Sessions (Fall 2012, Spring 2013)
- 2011-2013: Special Needs Director Hot Cheer-Special Needs Competitive Cheer-leading Team