Special Education Archives

Marymount’s Dr. Nicci Dowd named president of international organization’s special education division

Posted on February 26, 2026 by nmunson

Dr. Nicci Dowd, Assistant Professor in Marymount University’s School of Education, has begun a one-year term as president of the Division of International Special Education and Services (DISES), a section of the Council for Exceptional Children. She becomes the first African American president in the organization’s 37-year history, a historic milestone reflecting her professional leadership and longstanding commitment to inclusive education. DISES promotes global knowledge exchange, collaboration, human rights and […]

Strategies for Inclusive Classrooms in Special Education

Posted on April 30, 2025 by adauches

Every child deserves a robust, high-quality education, which means that teachers must actively work to accommodate the diverse needs of all learners in their classrooms. Special education teachers often rely on advanced strategies that address student diversity and enable differentiated instruction within the classroom environment. By exploring the leading inclusive teaching practices and learning more […]

Marymount’s Special Education program is first to achieve accreditation from Council for Exceptional Children

Posted on October 9, 2024 (October 10, 2024) by nmunson

Marymount University’s School of Education’s Special Education program is the first in the nation to achieve accreditation from the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the recognized leader for special education professional preparation standards that ensure special educators are better prepared for successful, long-term careers. CEC accreditation provides programs with a robust, targeted and exclusive opportunity […]

Scholarship program launched for diocesan teachers to earn special education certificate at Marymount

Posted on June 18, 2024 (June 18, 2024) by nmunson

Marymount University’s School of Education and the nonprofit Porto Charities have collaborated to launch a new scholarship program designed to support special education teachers and educators employed by the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. Porto Charities, which aims to increase educational and employment opportunities available to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through grants and advocacy […]

MU expands access to graduate education for ADW teachers

Posted on November 7, 2023 (November 7, 2023) by nmunson

Marymount University’s School of Education and the Archdiocese of Washington (ADW) have signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes a partnership between the two institutions, which will result in expanded access to Marymount graduate programs for ADW teachers through an innovative pathway to licensure. Seeking to provide access to high-quality and accredited academic courses […]

MU graduate programs achieve national rankings for first time

Posted on January 24, 2023 (January 25, 2023) by Connor Glowacki

Graduate programs at MU achieve national rankings for first time

Three of Marymount University’s graduate programs were nationally ranked this week with the unveiling of the U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Online Programs list. The University’s online Master’s in Business, Master’s in Education and Master’s in Nursing programs all debuted on the list, a first for the institution. This news follows Marymount’s […]

Special Education program graduate at MU overcomes challenges to reach finish line

Posted on May 19, 2021 (August 3, 2021) by

Faith Allen at Marymount University's 2021 Commencement Ceremonies

Faith Allen didn’t know much about Marymount University when she arrived on campus for the first time during a tour nearly four years ago. But what the Special Education major did know was the unmistakable sense of belonging she felt on that visit. “I fell in love!” Allen recalls. “It felt like a community […]