SEPSEA
Emmaree Wilson is the Basic Employment Coordinator for the EAGLES Program at Auburn University.
Emmaree has a bachelor’s degree in Collaborative Special Education, a master’s degree in Collaborative Special Education, and an Educational Specialist degree in the Administration of Elementary and Secondary Education. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Administration of Elementary and Secondary Education with a research focus on Special Education Post-Secondary Transition Services and is set to graduate in 2024. In addition, she holds graduate certifications in Intervention, Autism, and Developmental Disabilities, The Administration of Elementary and Secondary Education, Behavior Management, and supported employment specialization through VCU.
She is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Junior League of Lee County, First Year Experience Mentor program, Alternative Student Break Faculty/Staff Advisor program, and a proud cheerleading coach!
Kelly has served as the Program Director of SEU Link Program at Southeastern University for almost 5 years. Her strengths include communication, organization and time management. She has facilitated a monthly virtual chat for all University Team Leads for programs in Florida and presented at several state and national conferences.
Gwendolyn Carey, Ed.D. is an Instructor and founding member at FAU’s Academy for Community Inclusion which is a state-of-the-art program for adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ID). Dr. Carey’s previous experience includes over 15 years teaching students with various exceptionalities from birth to 22 at Easter Seals, Arc and the School District of Palm Beach County. She earned her Doctor of Education in Exceptional Student Education from Florida Atlantic University (FAU).
Dr. Carey’s expertise is in the area of Intellectual Disability (ID), transition, and Post-Secondary Education (PSE) for individuals with ID. Her research interests revolve around the impact of inclusion in higher education not only for individuals with ID, but also for other members of the campus community with whom students with ID interact. Her research is focused around quality of the effects of inclusion on all within the campus community.
Christian Zimmerman brings a wealth of experience in the Postsecondary Career and Technical Education realm to the SEPSEA Board, derived from his years of work at technical colleges in Florida. Christian is currently a Research Associate and Technical Assistance Coordinator at the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities. He works with existing and potential technical colleges to develop Florida Postsecondary Transition Programs (FPCTPs). Christian is the former program coordinator of the How I Reach Employment (HIRE) Program at Fort Myers Technical College and Cape Coral Technical College, where he oversaw a program for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Academically, Christian earned a Master of Educational Leadership from the American College of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of South Florida. He also completed additional graduate studies at Exeter College, Oxford and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. Christian is currently a doctoral student at UCF, where he is working on his Ed.D. in Exceptional Student Education. Christian is originally from Oregon, but he has lived all over the world and still enjoys traveling whenever he has the chance. In his free time, Christian enjoys reading, watching plays (anything Shakespeare), and spending time with his family.
Bailey Smith is the Director of the University of Arkansas -Pulaski Technical College’s 3D Program. She is a graduate of Henderson State University with a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Education. She is passionate about learning and teaching, as well as providing access to IPSE programs and employment for all.
Iris Neil is the Program Manager & Outreach Coordinator for the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities at the University of Central Florida. Iris coordinates professional development, including monthly webinars, for the Center as well as develops and disseminates materials to promote Florida Comprehensive Transition Programs (FPCTPs).
Iris has taught students with disabilities in both K-12 settings and at a FPCTP for the last 30 years. She has also worked as a mentor for exceptional student education (ESE) teachers in K-12 settings. Iris was a district coordinator for secondary curriculum and transition services in the 12th largest school district in the nation. While in this role, she collaborated with other institutions of higher education (IHEs) and state ESE staff to create a Transition and Postsecondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID), which was part of the initial TPSID grant Florida received. Additionally, Iris has worked with non-profit organizations as an advocate to help parents navigate exceptional student education services and adult disability services. Iris received her BA in Special Education at the University of Florida and her Master of Education in Educational Leadership at University of North Florida. Her career focus has been to guide students with disabilities, and their families, as they transition to independent adult living.
Erin Fitzgerald works for the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky (UK). She is the Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program Coordinator at UK, as well as a liaison for the Kentucky Supported Higher Education Partnership (KSHEP).
Erin holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education with a focus on Assistive Technology. She previously worked as a support coordinator and community support professional in the Kentucky IMPACT Program, where her primary focus was community engagement through person-centered planning. Erin believes strongly that all people should have access to inclusive higher education, and the opportunity to direct their path in life – based on their own strengths and interests.
My name is Shayla Anderson. and I reside in Conway, SC. I graduated from Coastal Carolina University with my B.A. and M.Ed. in Special Education. I have taught 9th-12th grade in Georgetown, SC and K-8th grade in the FL Keys. While I love all individuals with differing abilities, my favorite age group is 21+. After 2 years in the classroom, I was led to serve in the animal assisted therapy and related service field working primarily with horses. This is something I still do in my spare time.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, I had the pleasure of serving as the Program Coordinator of the South Carolina Inclusive Postsecondary Education Consortium (SCIPSEC). I had the opportunity to work with and on behalf of the six inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs across the state of South Carolina spreading awareness about the college experience and its associated benefits that students with intellectual disability could have access to.
In my spare time, I love chasing the sunrise/sunset, going to the barn and pet sitting!
Melody Blevins, Ed.D. is the Project Manager for Access ETSU at East Tennessee State University. Her role includes coordinating and managing the day-to-day operations of Access ETSU in close partnership with her team and the entire ETSU campus. Prior to this role, she served as a special education teacher in the public school system and was an advocate for inclusive education. Throughout her career, Melody has trained and coached teachers across the state in various topics regarding inclusive practices including access to high quality instruction, individualized support, co-teaching, collaborative practices, and person-centered thinking. She is also an adjunct instructor in the Educational Foundations & Special Education department at ETSU training the next generation of inclusive educators.
Melody is originally from Maryland where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Integrated Elementary & Special Education from Towson University. Shortly after moving to Johnson City in 2010, she completed her Master of Education in Special Education at ETSU. Melody also holds a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Milligan University.
As a first generation college student, Melody is passionate about breaking down barriers to college and supporting individuals in their own unique journey to post-secondary success.
Maurice Williams, MA, MS, CNP is a thirty year veteran of the higher education community of Tennessee. Mr. Williams retired after 20 years of service as a higher education law enforcement prevention and intervention coordinator.
Mr. Williams serves as the Associate Director of the Institute on Disability and as PSE Master Instructor for Career Development and Transition Programs for IDD students at the University of Memphis. Mr. Williams is a certified nonprofit professional and an advocate for youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He is one of the founding directors of the Shelby County Schools College Campus Transition Program (CCTP) and the University of Memphis’ Tigers Learning Independence Fostering Employment and Education (TigerLIFE) programs. Mr. Williams is a 1995 recipient of the University of Memphis, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Award; he is a past President of the University of Memphis Staff Senate. Mr. Williams received the Arc of the Mid-South Community Service Award, in October, 2013; he is a recipient of the 2016 State of the Arts Higher Education Institute Leadership Award. Mr. Williams serves as the Project Manager for the University of Memphis Institute on Disability’s TPSID BRIDGE Project.
Kenneth Kelty is an alumni of The Western Carolina University UP Program class of 2014. A year after graduation he was recruited from The Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities at UNC to represent Disability Advocacy in the Leadership Education in Neuro Developmental Disabilities and Related Disorders Program. After completion Kenneth was invited to come back as a fellow in The Maternal Child Health Bureau Leadership Consortium. Kenneth started with The Arc of The Triangle as an Administrative Assistant shortly after graduating from WCU.
Kenneth is a trailblazer in the disability community and higher education. He is an award winning motivational speaker and influencer on his life with disabilities and exceeding expectations from a young age. In 2017 Kenneth was The Recipient of The Laura Lee Self-Advocate Leadership Award and gave a Keynote Speech at The State of The Art Conference on Inclusive Post Secondary Education. In December of 2018. He received The Impact Award from The CIDD and his name is the plaque at The UNC School of Medicine. Kenneth manages his own public Facebook and Instagram page, Kenneth Kelty, Public Speaker and Author. Kenneth is an active member of The Tarheel Toastmasters and hopes to become a Distinguished Toastmaster, Accredited Speaker from Toastmasters International then eventually a Certified Speaking Professional from The National Speaker Associations. Kenneth does hope to have his book published and to become like Dr. Temple Grandin by becoming a famous self-advocate with a powerful story to share.
