Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development faculty members Jason Chow and Doug and Lynn Fuchs were recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children, the major professional organization in the field of special education, at its annual meeting in March. Chow is associate professor of special education. Doug Fuchs is research professor of special education and Nicholas Hobbs Chair of Special Education and Human Development, Emeritus. Lynn Fuchs is research professor of special education and Dunn Family Chair in Psychoeducational Assessment, Emerita.
The CEC’s Division for Research Board and Awards Committee honored Chow with the Martin J. Kaufman Distinguished Early Career Research Award, which “recognizes individuals who have made outstanding scientific contributions in special education, in basic and/or applied research, within the first 10 years following receipt of the doctoral degree.”
“I’ve had the privilege of working with exceptional students, friends, and colleagues, starting from the beginning of my career as a paraprofessional,” Chow said. “This recognition is a direct reflection of the people around me and our collective efforts to better understand how to support language, social, and behavioral development through collaborative and interdisciplinary research.
“I’m especially thankful to the students, educators, and families that have worked with me and my team to figure out what some of the key barriers are to implementing and sustaining effective practices and, most importantly, how to leverage our collective knowledge and skills to begin to address them together.”
The CEC’s Division for Learning Disabilities honored the Fuchses with the Jeannette Fleischner Career Leadership Award in recognition of their outstanding leadership in the field of special education. Specifically, the award honors those who advance the field of learning disabilities through direct services, policy development, community service, research, or organizational leadership throughout their career.
“We are honored to accept the Jeannette Fleischner Career Leadership Award for our work on behalf of children and youth with learning disabilities and dyslexia,” the Fuchses said. “We knew and admired Jeannette Fleischner, so this award seems both important and personal. We have always viewed our Vanderbilt positions as opportunities to make a difference in the lives of students at risk of school failure, and this understanding has guided our research and program development work.”
“The Peabody community is delighted that three of our terrific faculty have been recognized with prestigious awards that reflect their commitment to the field of special education and to enriching the educational experiences of countless students. I am grateful for their remarkable impact and congratulate them on these most deserved honors,” said Camilla Benbow, Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human Development.
