Think College is thrilled to welcome Dr. Danie Roberts-Dahm as the new project coordinator of the Think College Inclusive Higher Education Network (IHEN) project. For over a decade, Danie has worked to build capacity and facilitate a positive secondary transition experience and inclusive college opportunities for students with disabilities. We are so excited to get to work with her!
Prior to coming to the ICI, Danie was the co-principal investigator and director of the Eileen Hoffman Hafer UMatter Inclusive Postsecondary Program at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus as well as the principal investigator and director of Project 10: Transition Education Network, a state technical assistance project focused on the secondary transition of students with disabilities in Florida. Danie was also a partner with the Florida Consortium on Inclusive Higher Education, where she provided technical assistance and support to develop and expand inclusive postsecondary programs throughout Florida. From 2012-2016, Danie administered an inclusive postsecondary education dual/concurrent enrollment program at the USF Florida St. Petersburg campus in partnership with the local educational agency.
Early in my career, I was fortunate to have had the experience to be a part of a team that built an inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) program. As a graduate research assistant at the time, I worked in various capacities both directly with students with intellectual disability as a mentor, mentor coordinator and employment liaison, and then eventually working at the program development level. These experiences changed my career trajectory (I had planned for a career as an English professor) and inspired me to pursue a doctorate in special education so that I could continue to work within the innovative field of IPSE. Through my doctoral preparation in special education at USF, I was also able to pursue a cognate in educational leadership and policy and participate in a course developed by the Higher Education Consortium for Special Education. These opportunities provided me with a comprehensive understanding of policy, which facilitates my ability to translate policy to practice and guide service delivery to people with intellectual disabilities.
I have been a huge fan and consumer of all the information and support that the Think College projects have provided over the years. As an IPSE program director and technical assistance provider, I have spent years scouring ThinkCollege.net, utilizing their resources, and attending their events for program development on my own campus as well as throughout Florida and the southeast. It's truly an honor to join this team!
-Dr. Danie Roberts-Dahm