Debra Hart’s Legacy Lives On

Debra Hart was a trailblazer, a staunch advocate, and relentless in her pursuit of fully inclusive, authentic college options for students with intellectual disability. Debra was also a leader in establishing college-based transition services and transition leadership training. Just as importantly, she was a mentor, a leader, and a friend and she is sorely missed. Fortunately for us at Think College and indeed, the disability field broadly, her legacy is a foundation of achievements the field can continue to build upon.  

To learn more about Debra's life and contributions, read this heartfelt blog post by Meg Grigal. Additionally, there is an introduction to a special edition of the Journal of Inclusive Postsecondary Education which highlights the influential professional contributions of Debra. 

 

Memorial Awards

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Awarded annually to an individual in Massachusetts that exemplifies the same passion and commitment to high standards in inclusive postsecondary education as Debra Hart and a comprehensive approach to policy engagement, mentoring, and practice. ...Read more
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Awarded annually to an individual who facilitates innovation and progress in inclusive higher education in an impactful way on a local, regional, or national level. ...Read more
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Awarded annually to a current student in a postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disability within the SEPSEA Region that actively engages in leadership and advocacy activities. ...Read more

Debra Hart Slideshow

Colleagues sitting around a table eating pizza
Ashley Luce, Debra Hart, Irina Cain, Nancy Hurley, Lori Cooney, Maria Paiewonsky, and Sheila Johnson sharing a meal in Boston
Group of people standing, smiling, in front of Reno: The Biggest Little City in the World sign
Russ Thelin, Clare Papay, Rebecca Lazo, Denise Rozell (from AUCD), Cate Weir, Ty Hanson, Debra Hart, and Kelly Kelley (from Western Carolina U.) in Reno, NV for SOTA 2018
Two women standing next to a display for the Future Quest Island project, smiling.
Lori Cooney and Debra Hart representing FQI at the OSEP Project Directors meeting in Washington DC in 2018
Group of people gathered together for a photo
Debra with the 2023 Think College Policy Advocates cohort
Two women stand at a Think College exhibit table at a conference
Rebecca Lazo & Debra Hart pose at the Think College exhibit at the National Down Syndrome Congress convention in 2022
Black & white photo of three women sitting together smiling at the camera
Cate Weir, Debra Hart, & Meg Grigal sit together at a conference
Five women standing together, with Kelly Kelley in the center, wearing purple, holding a certificate of accreditation
Martha Mock, Madeleine Will, Kelly Kelley, Stephanie Smith Lee, and Debra Hart stand together to celebrate Western Carolina University UP Program accreditation in 2023
Four women standing together, smiling at the camera
Debra Hart, Maria Paiewonsky holding her award, Meg Grigal, and Ty Hanson stand together smiling
White woman with grey hair, talking into a microphone, standing in front of some people seated at tables
Debra Hart speaking at the HBCU Inclusive Postsecondary Education Summit in 2023
Group of women, several wearing blue Think College sweaters, standing in front of a Think Higher. Think College. backdrop
Debra Hart, Cate Weir, Clare Papay, Chelsea Stinnett, Susanna Miller-Raines, Shelby Bates, Meg Grigal, and Maria Paiewonsky at SOTA in Colorado in 2023
Colleagues sitting around a table eating pizza
Group of people standing, smiling, in front of Reno: The Biggest Little City in the World sign
Two women standing next to a display for the Future Quest Island project, smiling.
Group of people gathered together for a photo
Two women stand at a Think College exhibit table at a conference
Black & white photo of three women sitting together smiling at the camera
Five women standing together, with Kelly Kelley in the center, wearing purple, holding a certificate of accreditation
Four women standing together, smiling at the camera
White woman with grey hair, talking into a microphone, standing in front of some people seated at tables
Group of women, several wearing blue Think College sweaters, standing in front of a Think Higher. Think College. backdrop
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