Grace Lappin who graduated in February 2003, from Health and Behavior Studies with a Ph.D, is currently a full time faculty member at St. Joseph's College in New York in the Child Study Department.  Some of the classes that Dr. Lappin is currently teaching are, psychology of the exceptional child, teaching methods for the inclusive classroom, and research in special education.  Not only did Dr. Lappin receive her doctorate from Teachers College, but she also received her master of philosophy in physical disabilities in 2001, her master of education in instructional practices in 2000, and her master of arts in medieval history in 1985.  She has also been an adjunct faculty member here at Teachers College in the Department of Health and Behavior Studies. 

While working on her studies at TC, Dr. Lappin was a teacher for the New York City Board of Education from 1993-2000.  She has had various experiences working with at-risk teenagers, special education children, and children with severe emotional disturbances. 

Dr. Lappin's dissertation was a case study about attachment in blind infants, which earned her the Dissertation of the Year Award in 2003, from the Council for Exceptional Children. Her work has been published in the DVI Quarterly, Zero to Three, and The Long Island Advance. Her long term goal is to continue doing research and continue teaching at the college level.

Many professors have encouraged her to think in exciting new directions.  Thanks to the role models and training Dr. Lappin has had at TC, she sees herself  in the next decade or two as a researcher, a collaborator, a teacher, an advocate for families, an expert in the field of early childhood special education and blindness/visual impairments working with experts in the international arena.

Published Thursday, Apr. 3, 2003