Challenges Facing Female Department Chairs in Contemporary Higher Education: Emerging Research and Opportunities: Emerging Research and Opportunities

Denise Simard, Ph.D., is presently the Interim Dean for the School of Education, Health, and Human Services at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, in Plattsburgh, NY. She began her professional journey as a special education teacher. She then began collaborating with children and families to access technology devices and services to empower them to be more independent in their daily lives. She used those experiences to become an advocate for change and subsequently managed local and state professional development initiatives related to the infusion of technology into instructional practices to improve learning outcomes for all students, especially those with special needs. She also supported the strategic planning process, facilitation, and evaluation of online learning communities for education organizations on a local, state, and national level. Previously she served as an Associate Dean, taught undergraduate classes in the childhood education program and graduate classes in special education, and served as Department Chair in the Teacher Education Unit. Her areas of interest and research include multiculturalism, special education, assistive technology, online learning, and communities of practice. Through her various roles in higher education, she has had the wonderful opportunity to examine aspects of leadership and the nuances and intricacies involved.