Cristie Clancy

Cristie Clancy is an Adjunct Professor at Nova Southeastern University, teaching child life courses within the Developmental Disabilities graduate degree program. She is a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) with over two decades of experience in clinical practice, leadership, and program development in hospital settings.

Her clinical expertise spans the medical continuum of care, from emergency medicine to long-term rehabilitation, with a focus on diverse patient populations and diagnoses. As a child life leader, she has pioneered services in new patient care areas, served as a program director and department supervisor, and coordinated internships to train future professionals.

Her research interests include:

• Race and belonging in the child life profession
• Leadership studies in education
• Developmental disabilities
• Pediatric care integration with child life services

She is actively engaged in professional service, currently serving as a reviewer for the Journal of Child Life and as Secretary for the ACLP Board of Directors (2022-2024 term). Her work aims to bridge theory and practice for aspiring child life specialists.