معرفی
Holly Lawson is an Associate Professor and coordinator of the Visually Impaired Learner (VIL) program in the Department of Special Education at Portland State University's College of Education. She has been with PSU since 2014, bringing extensive experience from her prior role as an assistant professor and coordinator at George Mason University. The VIL program, the only one in the Pacific Northwest, prepares Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVIs) to serve students from birth to age 21.
Her educational background includes a Master's and PhD from the University of Arizona, where she held teaching and research positions. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a residential instructor at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and served in the Peace Corps in Morocco.
Dr. Lawson's research and professional focus centers on special education for individuals with visual impairments. She is dedicated to addressing the nationwide shortage of TSVIs, particularly in rural areas, by preparing educators through PSU's VIL program. Her work emphasizes inclusive education, ensuring students with visual impairments have full access to the general curriculum through innovative teaching strategies and field experiences.
As the program coordinator, Dr. Lawson advises students pursuing the Master's degree, graduate certificate, licensure, and endorsement in Visually Impaired Learner/Blindness and Low Vision. The program offers financial support through College of Education scholarships, state department of education scholarships, and potential district funding. Students engage in research through the master's thesis core under faculty mentorship.
The VIL program operates as part of the Pacific and Northwest Consortium for Vision Education (PNWCVE), serving Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho, and Montana. It utilizes a cohort model with hybrid (online and face-to-face) scheduling to accommodate working professionals, and students gain practical experience through field placements in diverse educational settings.
