Project Advisory Committee (PAC)
Preparation of Leadership Personnel: Doctoral Training Program in School Psychology/Special Education and the Hispanic Child with Disabilities
In addition to these more general professional interactions that influence the planning and implementation activities of this project, a project advisory committee (PAC) has also been established to provide input to the project staff. The primary purpose of the PAC will be to provide input to the project staff on the design and implementation of each of the following priorities: a) project student recruitment and retention plan; b) content and design of the program curriculum; and c) project administrative activities. Throughout the year, PAC members will receive announcements regarding activities sponsored by the project. In addition to regular communication between advisory committee members and project staff through email and phone conversations each semester, there will be one PAC meeting each spring with project staff and students on the TAMU campus as components of formative evaluation. PAC members will be provided with a copy of the annual project at this time; additional supporting documentation and presentations will be presented. The PAC will then provide recommendations for program activities and improvements for the coming year.
The composition of the PAC is designed to include representation from key stakeholders and to ensure that the grant is informed by diverse perspectives. The current members of the PAC include: i) individuals with disabilities; ii) parents of individuals with disabilities; iii) graduates of the training program; iv) TEA representative; v) representative of University disability services. Members of the PAC receive no compensation; their participation is voluntary. Brief biographical information on these individuals follows:
Dr. Donna Williams. Dr. Williams has a doctorate in Adult and Continuing Education from TAMU; this area is is now part of Educational Human Resource Development. Dr. Williams works in the Department of Disability Services at TAMU. She not only has extensive work experience with students with disabilities, but she has cerebral palsy.
Dr. Mike Ash. Dr. Ash is a professor in the school psychology program at TAMU. He has extensive work experience working with parents of children with disabilities, interfacing with local school district personnel, and is actively involved in Brazos Valley Head Start. He has committed himself to service in his professional career.
Ms. Kathy May is a staff person in the Educational Psychology Department and has extensive background and training regarding disability advocacy issues (A Partners in Policymaking graduate). She is an active advocate for her daughter, who attended and graduated from local schools. She also is very familiar with the Doctoral Training Grant.
Dr. Cindy Gonzalez. Dr. Gonzalez is a graduate of the School Psychology Program at Texas A&M and is a faculty member and Director of the School Psychology Program at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, a private university with a large enrollment of Hispanic students. She is Hispanic and is interested in furthering the research and training related to working with Hispanic children with disabilities.
Ms. Ruth Solis. Ms. Solis is an educational specialist in the Special Education Division of the Texas Educational Service Center - Region 1 in South Texas. Ms. Solis has been actively involved in professional training activities to improve assessment and intervention services for Hispanic students with disabilities. Ms. Solis is chairperson of the Statewide Multicultural Taskforce for Special Education in Texas. On a personal level, Ms. Solis has two children with disabilities.
Dr. Anne Reber. Dr. Reber has a doctorate in Special Education and is the Director of Students with Disabilities Services Office at TAMU. Dr. Reber works with university students with disabilities; she has had over 15 years of experience working in special education in public schools and extensive experience working with students on the university campus.
Dr. S. Hector Ochoa. Dr. Ochoa is a graduate of the program and for many years directed the program. He is the new Dean of the College of Education at UT-Pan American He is passionate about the issues and needs related to serving Hispanic children with disabilities and has published extensively on issues related to assessment and over-representation of minority students in special education.
