Congratulating Dr. Robert A. Gable, 2023 Romaine P. Mackie Leadership Award Winner

The Romaine P. Mackie Leadership Award honors an outstanding professional who has demonstrated leadership in CEC and other organizations for an extensive period of time in various areas within the field including service delivery, teacher education and professional development, research, policy, assessment, and publications. The award is named for Romaine P. Mackie, a former US Commissioner of Education, an active CEC member, and a devout supporter of special education in the early years who promoted the mission of CEC in all her work. The Division of Legacy and Leadership introduces the 2023 award winner, Dr. Robert A. Gable.

Dr. Gable holds the Constance F. and Colgate W. Darden Professorship at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. He is a past president of the Division for Emotional and Behavioral Health (formerly CEC-BD) and has presented at conferences domestically and internationally. He has authored over 300 publications and been awarded over fifty million dollars to support the improvement of education and life outcomes of students with disabilities. A Senior Fulbright Scholarship enabled several trips to Vietnam to support the development of special education services there.

Dr. Gable is a researcher, practitioner, and mentor who is passionate about the field of special education. When his former doctoral students speak of him, all highlight his caring personality and personal style of mentorship where he would meet with them weekly, fostering an intellectual curiosity that could not be taught while instilling a belief in oneself. He infuses in his mentees a sensitivity to and appreciation for issues of diversity in the field of special education. He ensures doctoral students have foundational knowledge of the history of the field with an appreciation of the leaders who helped shape special education.

The Division of Leaders and Legacy presents the Romaine P. Mackie Leadership Award to Dr. Gable.