About the Coordinator
Yvette M. Blitzer, M.S Ed., is Coordinator of the Program, Teachers of Students Who Are Blind and Visually Impaired .
A graduate of Dominican University and the TVI program, Ms. Blitzer joined the faculty after 15 years of service in the field of low vision and blindness. She has held a variety of roles in the field of education including classroom teacher, educational coordinator, and program director for after school programs, curriculum designer and writer for visual and performance arts programs in Arizona and New York City. Mrs. Blitzer continues to remain active in service as well as in the area of research, as she aims to complete her doctoral studies in “Educational Leadership and Management” with Capella University. Furthermore, her time and service extends to several committees such as New York State Chapter for the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Association for the Visually Impaired in Rockland County along with the Council for Exceptional Children’s Diversity Division.
B.A., Queens College
M.A., Queens College
Dr. Diane DiSpagna received her Doctorate in Education with a concentration in Special Education from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dr. DiSpagna has earned two degrees from Long Island University including a Master’s of Science in Early Childhood Education and a Professional Diploma in Educational Administration, with a certification as School District Administrator. Her Undergraduate studies were completed here at Dominican University where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Education, with an N-6 Teaching Certification. Before coming to Dominican, Dr. DiSpagna taught in the early childhood and primary grades and served as an elementary school principal for 10 years, all of which has given her many years of valuable experiences to share with the students in the Teacher Education Program. During her career she has also served as a consultant for the teacher preparation programs for other higher education institutions, as a scorer for the Principal Licensure Examination, and is an active member of the Rockland Chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children. Dr. DiSpagna also serves as Counselor for the Dominican University Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education.
B.S., University of Scranton
M.A., New York University
B.S., Marywood College
M.S., St. Thomas Aquinas College
Dr. Mike Kelly has been a member of Dominican’s Teacher Education Division since 1987. He graduated from Iona College with a BA in Spanish and Education and then pursued his MS in Ed in Special Education at the College of New Rochelle followed by a post Masters/Professional Diploma in Administration/Supervision and Urban Education and a Ph.D in Administration and Supervision with an emphasis in Special Education Administration. Dr. Kelly instructs many courses in Teacher Education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels—in traditional and online formats. He serves as the Director of the Graduate Programs in Education as well as Director of the programs in Special Education and Adolescence Education at the undergraduate level and advises the Senior Year Overlap Program (SYROP). He is the Certification Officer and liaison with the NYS Education Department. Dr. Kelly’s commitment to the profession of teaching includes a ten-year tenure with the NYS Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) where he served as regional representative and student chapter advisor and currently with the NYS Education Department where his committee membership includes responsibilities for the NYS Teacher Certification Tests Framework Review, Test Item Development, Bias Assessment and Standard Setting. He has a professional practice where he provides psycho-educational diagnostic, remedial and counseling services for children, adolescents and young adults with learning disabilities. He has presented at many state and local conferences on his topics of research interest including Inclusive Pedagogical Practices, Universal Design for Learning, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Assessment, Parenting, HIV/Aids Education, Educational Technology Integration and Cultural Responsiveness.
Dr. Strax earned her B.A. from Dominican University, M.S. and P.D. from the College of New Rochelle, and Ed.D. from Fordham University. She is a past president of the New England Educational Research Organization, has held many leadership positions in the Eastern Educational Research Association since 1999, and has published on the topic of special education. A qualitative researcher, her interests include inclusive education, the use of service dogs with people with disabilities, and children’s literature. Dr. Strax teaches Psychosocial Aspects of Exceptionality in the graduate program as well as a range of courses including Instructional Strategies and Materials for the Learner with Exceptionalities, Psychology of Learners with Intellectual and Behavioral Challenges, Inclusive Settings, and School and Society in the undergraduate program.
