2025 Diversity Leadership Academy Members Announced

Arlington, Va., December 19, 2024 - The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is pleased to announce the 2025 cohort of the Diversity Leadership Academy. The Diversity Leadership Academy is a substantive professional development program established for special education professionals who share a commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the field of special education.

Members of the 2025/2026 CEC’s Diversity Leadership Academy (DLA), are now part of a talented and diverse cohort of 12 CEC members representing schools and universities who share a commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the field of special education. The DLA offers scholars the opportunity to attend quarterly virtual professional development programs, engage in networking, and benefit from mentorship. Each DLA scholar will receive one year of professional membership in CEC and the Division for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners (DDEL) as well as funding to attend the 2025 CEC Convention & Expo in Baltimore, MD. 

This group includes educators, consultants, and doctoral candidates from a range of educational roles, from teaching and coordinating special education programs to providing expertise in assistive technology, speech-language pathology, and school psychology. They represent a wide geographical spread, including the U.S. and Canada.