Question 1

Immediate Past President

Accepted Answer

Jenna Lequia, PhD (Immediate Past President) is an Assistant Professor at New York Medical College (School of Health Sciences and Practice) and Community Training Coordinator at Westchester Institute for Human Development. In this position, I currently lead the development of an educational research agenda and serve as core faculty in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program. Prior to this, I completed my doctoral training in Special Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Connecticut. My scholarship falls into three main areas: self-determination, inclusion and stakeholder engagement. I am particularly interested in evaluating the effects of social, communication and behavioral interventions for students with severe disabilities; examining factors that impact the inclusion of students with severe disabilities; and exploring the impact of innovative models of professional development. My professional experiences include providing ABA therapy to young children with autism spectrum disorders in the home, teaching in an inclusive preschool setting, providing consultation to parents to develop and implement behavior intervention plans for their children with developmental disabilities, and providing consultation to schools looking to more meaningfully include students with severe disabilities.

 

Terms:

2020-21: Past President

2019-20: President

2018-19: President Elect

2017-18: Vice President

Question 2

President

Accepted Answer

Loretta (Lucky) Mason-Williams, PhD (President) is an associate professor at Binghamton University with a research interest in special educator preparation. I earned my PhD in special education from the University of Maryland (Go Terps!) and a Master's degree from Loyola College in Baltimore. Prior to earning my doctorate, I taught in a middle school in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

 

Contact Information:

Mailing Address:

Email:  lmason-williams@binghamton.edu

Phone: 607-777-6693

Office: Academic Building B, Room 229B

PO Box 6000

Binghamton, NY 13902-6000

 

Terms:

2020-2021: President

2019-20: President Elect

2018-19: Past President/VP

2017-18: President

2016-17: President Elect

Question 3

Vice President

Accepted Answer

This position is currently vacant.

 

We're currently looking for individuals willing to enter the Presidential line, a multi-year commitment. Please email Colleen Wilkinson (caw336@medaille.edu) for more information!

Question 4

Treasurer

Accepted Answer

Dawn Hamlin, PhD (Treasurer) is an associate professor in special education at SUNY Oneonta. Currently, I chair the department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education at Oneonta. I was the founder of the graduate special education program at SUNY Oneonta. Prior to that, I earned my PhD in special education from the Pennsylvania State University. My research focuses on issues related to teacher education and preparation. I am also interested in high incidence disabilities, adolescent SWD, and professional development in special education. Currently, I teach an Applied Behavioral Analysis course, instructional design, and methods courses in reading, math and writing.

 

Prior to earning my doctorate, I taught in a maximum security prison for adolescents in Connecticut. My original teaching career started in the public school setting working with middle school and high school students in Cheshire, Connecticut. As a special educator, I co-taught all four subject areas across the secondary grades. I earned my master’s degree from LeMoyne College in Syracuse.

 

Contact Information:

Email:  dawn.hamlin@oneonta.edu

Phone: 607-4363526

Office:  Academic Building B, Room 229B

Mailing Address: 374F Fitzelle Hall

SUNY Oneonta 

Oneonta NY 13820

Question 5

Secretary

Accepted Answer

Dr. Tammy Ellis Robinson (Secretary) is an assistant professor within the Divisions of Special Education and Educational Psychology and Methodology. Prior to joining the faculty, she was a special education teacher for students with a range of disabilities in an urban high school and worked in theater education with adults and children with and without disabilities through the Arts Center of the Capital Region. Her research interests include writing, classroom engagement, creativity and social justice in the classroom. She is the founder and Executive Director of Skribblers Magazine Inc., a local nonprofit promoting literacy and self-expression. In her spare time Dr. Ellis-Robinson enjoys dancing, poetry, and spending time with family.

 

Email: tellis-robinson@albany.edu

Question 6

Leadership Coordinator

Accepted Answer

Colleen Wilkinson, PhD (Leadership Coordinator) in the Students with Disabilities Program for both BSED and MSED students in Education. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Special Education, with K-12 teaching certification from Buffalo State College, certification in School Administration from St. Bonaventure University, and a doctoral degree in Special Education from UB. Prior to coming to Medaille, Dr. Wilkinson worked as a Special Education Teacher in the City of Buffalo for eleven years. Her research interests include differentiated instructional strategies, behavior management, and teacher preparation.

Question 7

Advocacy Coordinator

Accepted Answer

Rae Lynn Helman (Advocacy Coordinator)

Question 8

Communications Coordinator

Accepted Answer

Mary Theresa (Communications Coordinator)

Question 9

Member-at-Large

Accepted Answer

Liz Daly (Member-at-Large)

Erica Cruz (Member-at-Large)

 

Terms (2-year commitment):

2020-21

2021-22

Board Members
Toni Mixon	Leadership Coordinator	Buffalo Public Schools Math, Science & Technology (MST) Preparatory High School 646 East Delevan Avenue, Room 221 Buffalo, NY 14215 Office: (716) 816-3588 tmixon@buffaloschools.org
Rochelle Hoot	Advocacy Coordinator (CAN Rep)	rhoot@aspirewny.org
Maria Haji-Georgi	Communications Coordinator	University at Albany Visiting Assistant Professor mhaji-georgi@albany.edu
Elizabeth Daley	Member at Large	edaley@queensburyschool.org
L. Beth Brady	Member at Large	Assistant Professor Program Leader of the Blind/Visual Impairments and Severe/Multiple Disabilities Programs LBrady@hunter.cuny.edu 695 Park Ave NY, NY 10065

NYSCEC 2023-24 Officers
Emily Hoeh	Past President	University at Plattsburgh, SUNY 323 Sibley Hall Office A 101 Broad Street Plattsburgh, NY 12901 518-564-2136 ehoeh001@plattsburgh.edu
Naima Bhana	President	Niagara University nbhana@niagara.edu
Maria Mello	President Elect	St. John’s University Assistant Professor mellom@stjohns.edu
Tammy Ellis-Robinson	Treasurer	University at Albany State University of NY 1400 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12222 tellis-robinson@albany.edu 518-442-5061
Lauren Schnal	Secretary	Southwest Elementary School Brentwood Union Free School District Special Education Teacher

Board of Directors