School of Education Archives - Marymount University

Catherine Thompson, PhD

Academic Credentials

Ph.D. in Education, George Mason University; Masters in Special Education, George Mason University; Autism Certificate, George Mason University; BS in Marketing Management, Virginia Tech

Bio

I am passionate about serving God and using my gifts and talents to improve the lives of families and students with disabilities. I love research and sharing best practices with teachers and pre-service teachers. I especially enjoy working with families to help them gain a better understanding of their child’s needs and interventions that will help them. I’m a mother of an adult child with an autism spectrum disorder, a high school son, and two stepchildren. I love to travel with my husband. Fun Fact: When traveling in Mostar, Bosnia, my husband and I had coffee with a fighter from the Bosnian war and learned firsthand his experiences and atrocities.

Teaching Areas

Special Education, Mathematics

Research Interests

Family Collaboration, Evidence-Based Practices

Publications

Creighton Thompson, C. & Hauth, C., (2015). The Survival Guide for NEW special education teachers. Council for Exceptional Children. […]

Linda Mann, PhD

Academic Credentials

PhD in Education Policy, George Mason University; Master of Education, Curriculum and Instruction, University of Vermont; Bachelor of Science, Education, University of Vermont

Bio

Linda J. Mann holds a PhD in Education Policy from George Mason University. Mann currently serves as the Executive Director for the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project at Northeastern University’s School of Law. In 2018 Mann was awarded an Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Accountability fellowship with Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR). Following her fellowship, she continued to work for ISHR establishing a U.S. African American Redress Network in collaboration with Howard University. Mann also served as Director of Clinical Experiences at Marymount University in Arlington, VA. Mann’s research focuses on the intersection of race, history and restorative justice policymaking. Mann previously worked for the Georgetown Memory Project and the American Educational Research Association. She is a veteran educator, a conflict resolution specialist and a 20+ year grass-roots organizer. Mann loves to kayak, run, hike and play outdoors with her dog Sunny.

Teaching Areas

Social Studies K-12; specialization in U.S. History and African American Studies, Ethics & Social Justice

Research Interests

The potential of restorative justice for U.S. Historical Wrongdoings

Publications

Mann, L. (2021). Unfulfilled restorative justice: Prince Edward County, Virginia and the Brown scholarship fund in Past/Present: Time, Memory, and the Negotiation of Historical Justice (invited). Routledge. In print Pellegrino, A., Mann, L., Russell, W., (February/March 2013). To Lift As We Climb: A Textbook Analysis of the Segregated School Experience. The High School Journal 96(3), 209-231. […]

Nicci Dowd, EdD

“Academic Credentials

Ed.D. in K-12 School Leadership, Regent University; M.Ed. in Special Education, Marymount University; B.S. in Social Psychology, Park University

Bio

Nicci T. Dowd, Ed.D. is a Marymount University alumna and an Adjunct Professor for the School of Education. In addition to her role as an Adjunct, Dr. Dowd serves as a Trainer and Technical Specialist for AIM-VA. In this capacity, she trains educators throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia about the benefits of accessible reading and how to use assistive technology. Prior to joining AIM-VA, Dr. Dowd worked as a Language Arts and Learning Strategies middle school and high school special education teacher. She enjoys raising awareness about community resources for students with disabilities and their families. Dr. Dowd is passionate about exploring barriers related to diversity, equity and inclusion in education and the community. Additionally, she collaborates with community stakeholders to identify recommendations for facilitating diversity in education and the community. She serves as a board member on several boards to include the Arc of Northern Virginia, the Autism Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV), and the Virginia Society for Technology in Education (VSTE).
In her spare time, Dr. Dowd enjoys spending time with her family, grilling and relaxing on her front porch with her dog (Chuck Norris)!

Teaching Areas

Special Education: Foundations and Characteristics, Diagnostic and Corrective Literacy

Research Interests

Support for African American Males with Disabilities and their Families; Development of support programs for students with Autism; Development of support programs for Adults with Disabilities; and Diversity and Inclusion for Technology in Education.

Publications

” […]

Paola Fattorini

Academic Credentials

Web Designer Certificate, Northern Virginia Community College; Postgraduate studies on Human Rights and Development, Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru; Bachelor in Communications, Universidad San Martin de Porres (Lima, Peru)

Bio

I have always been passionate about Higher Education. Universities are my favorite place to work. Three years ago Marymount made me fall in love with its values of intellectual curiosity, global perspective, and service to others. Our faculty is just extraordinary.
I’m thrilled to enhance the internal and external communication in my School, while supporting our amazing faculty and students through my organizational and administrative skills, making sure we are approachable, fun, and efficient in all of our administrative aspects.
I love cooking. I’m currently working on a book with one of my friends who is a chef in Melbourne, Australia. Our project aims to communicate the aromas, recipes, and spirit of cooking through the experiences and knowledge of two friends that treasure diversity, which is the greatest menu item to honor culture, gender, and generations.

Teaching Areas

Research Interests

Publications

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Daniel F. Curtin, MEd

Academic Credentials

Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, 2002, Mount Saint Mary’s University; M.Ed. degree in School Administration, 1976, George Mason University; M.A. degree in American History, 1983, University of Notre Dame; B.S degree in American History, 1964, Mt. St. Mary’ University

Bio

Daniel F. Curtin’s career in Catholic education includes service as a teacher, counselor, and administrator. He currently serves as an adjunct instructor at Marymount University. For 21 years, he was a teacher and administrator at Mackin Catholic High School, Washington, DC. In 1976, he was appointed the first lay principal at Mackin and of any school sponsored by the Brothers of Holy Cross in the United States. From 1985 – 1999, Mr. Curtin served on the personal staff of Washington Archbishop James Cardinal Hickey as Secretary for Catholic Education responsible for all educational programs in more than ninety-five elementary and secondary schools. From 1999 to 2011, Curtin was Executive Director of Chief Administrators of Catholic Education at the National Catholic Educational Association, where he provided professional programs for 190 Catholic school superintendents and others. He also served as a Consultant for Catholic Education for the Diocese of Arlington before retiring in 2020. Mr. Curtin serves on numerous Boards, including as past Chair of Mt. St. Mary’s University Board of Trustees. Mr. Curtin is the recipient of two Papal Awards in recognition of his service to the Catholic Church. Curtin enjoys reading new works on American history.

Teaching Areas

History of American Education; History of American Catholic Education

Research Interests

American History, 1945 – present; Catholic Education History, 1800 – present; School Boards and Councils; Strategic Planning

Publications

• Various articles on Catholic education history and issues in news publications and educational journals. […]

Lynda Herrera, EdD

“Academic Credentials

Ed.D. in Educational Administration, Hofstra University; M.S. in Secondary Education – Social Studies, Hofstra University; M.A. in 20th Century World History, Villanova University; B.A. in History, Virginia Wesleyan University

Bio

Dr. Lynda Herrera is an adjunct professor in the School of Education. Dr. Herrera began her career teaching secondary social studies in New York. As a military spouse, she has had the pleasure of teaching at multiple Universities in New York, Kansas, Hawai’i, and Virginia. Dr. Herrera strives to prepare pre-service teachers in the art and science of teaching using interdisciplinary, hands-on, higher level thinking strategies. Her hope is that students leave her class with a toolbox of strategies they can implement in their classrooms to better connect elementary or secondary students to content in an engaging and stimulating way. She has served on the Editorial Board of the Social Studies and the Young Learner Journal for the National Council of Social Studies since 2011. She enjoys gardening, travel, and time with her husband and two children as she follows them around to various Comic-Cons.

Teaching Areas

Elementary Social Studies Methods, Research Methods, Secondary Teaching Methods

Research Interests

Engagement of young learners in social studies education; educational experiences of minority students in middle schools; examination of how pre-service teachers think through their experience as educators.

Publications

● Costello-Herrera, L. (2010). Diverse Schools Without Multicultural Curriculum. Race, Gender & Class, 88-92. ● Costello, L. (2003). I was called a ‘spic’. In S. M. Alan Singer with Maureen Murphy, Teaching to Learn, Learning to Teach: A Handbook for Secondary School Teachers (p. 45). Mahwah, NJ:: Lawrence Erlbaum. ● Mac Curtain, M., Murphy, M., Singer, A., Costello, L., Gaglione, R., Miller, S., . . . Williams, N. (Spring 2001). Text and Context: Field-Testing the NYS Great Irish Famine Curriculum. Theory and Research in Social Education, 238-260.” […]

Shannon Melideo, PhD

Academic Credentials

PhD. Educational Leadership and Management, American University; Graduate Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders, James Madison University; Post-Masters, Elementary Principalship, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; MEd Reading, Kutztown University; BS Elementary Education, Lock Haven University

Bio

Dr. Shannon Melideo has dedicated her thirty-one-year career to the education profession. She taught grades 1,3,4,5, ESOL grades K-5, music grades K-8, and 7th-12th grade biology in high needs schools. She has been a mentor teacher, cooperating teacher, elementary administrator, district coordinator of ESOL, teaching faculty member, university department chairperson, supervisor, and associate dean. She recently returned to the elementary classroom and serves as the lead fifth-grade teacher at Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences in Fairfax County Public Schools. During that time, she has been nominated as teacher of the year twice at her school. Concurrently, she also teaches as an adjunct professor for the College of Health and Education at Marymount University in Virginia, USA. Throughout her career, she has collaborated extensively on schoolwide, districtwide, campuswide, statewide, national, and international committees, research projects, and task forces. Dr. Melideo is an avid traveler, reader, and dancer.

Teaching Areas

Literacy, collaboration, special education

Research Interests

Her current research interests are in teacher impacts on cultural competence and inclusivity and collaborative leadership.

Publications

[…]

Michael Murphy, EdD

Academic Credentials

EdD- University of Sarasota; MEd – University of Maryland; BA- University of Maryland

Bio

Since 1973, Dr. Michael Murphy has been involved in Catholic education as a teacher, principal, and president of Catholic secondary schools. Mike joined Marymount University’s Catholic School Leadership Program as an adjunct professor in 2001. In addition to his involvement in Catholic schools, he has served on the Board of Directors of Catholic secondary schools in Kentucky and Maryland. His educational service also included serving as a member of the US Department of Education Site Evaluation Team for the Blue Ribbon Schools Program, a member of the Lay Retirement Board for the Archdiocese of Baltimore and a speaker on numerous occasions for the National Catholic Education Association.

Since retiring as president of Archbishop Spalding High School in 2011, he has worked with schools and parishes in Florida, North Carolina, Maryland and South Carolina on faculty leadership, board development, financial operations and capital campaigns. His latest fundraising effort involved a campaign for a new Catholic church in South Carolina. The campaign goal of $4,800,000 was exceeded by $300,000.
He is currently writing a book entitled “Orchestral Leadership- Listening to the Music of your Organization.”

Teaching Areas

School Finance and Development; Leadership and Supervision; Administrative Issues in Special Education

Research Interests

Leadership; Alternative Funding/Advancement for Catholic schools and parishes; School Finance; Inclusion in Catholic Schools

Publications

[…]

Sarah Wannemuehler, EdD

Academic Credentials

Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Spalding University; Ed.S. in Educational Administration, Spalding University; M.S. in Elementary Education, Indiana University; B.S. in Elementary Education, University of Southern Indiana

Bio

Dr. Sarah Wannemuehler has been involved in private and public education for over forty-five years as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. Dr. Wannemuehler holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Southern Indiana; a master’s degree from Indiana University and an educational specialist degree and doctorate degree from Spalding University. For three years, Dr. Wannemuehler served as the Director of Graduate Studies at Aquinas College in Nashville, Tennessee. She is presently an Associate Professor, the Director of Early Field Experience at the University of Southern Indiana and teaches in the Graduate School of Education. In addition, she is an adjunct professor at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia and a part of the adjunct faculty at the University of San Francisco. Dr. Wannemuehler is a member of the Education Law Association. She is a national lecturer on the topic of School Law.
Dr. Wannemuehler has two adult children and six grandchildren. Her hobbies include walking, reading, playing, the piano, and mowing the lawn.

Teaching Areas

Public and Private Education Law; Educational Research; Principal Mentorship

Research Interests

Education Law, Education Policy and Development, Educational Administration, Spiritual and Educational Leadership

Publications

[…]

Peg Dispenzieri, PhD

Academic Credentials

Ph.D. Education: K-12 Learning, Walden University; M.Ed. Education, Indiana Wesleyan University; B.S. Biology, John Carroll University

Bio

Dr. Peg Dispenzieri has served in Catholic education for 30+ years, beginning as a middle/high school biology teacher and then principal before accepting her current position as superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana.
As superintendent, Dr. Dispenzieri works closely with 20 schools across the diocese to support administrators and teachers in their mission of education and faith formation. She has been part of the adjunct faculty at Marymount University since 2008. Dr. Dispenzieri is also a pastoral musician—piano, organ, and guitar—and is blessed to regularly accompany liturgical celebrations at her church and schools.

Teaching Areas

Advanced Curriculum and Instruction for Educational Leadership

Research Interests

Catholic School leadership, Governance structure in Catholic schools, teacher and staff retention

Publications

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