KEARNEY – Marisa Macy is the new Cille and Ron Williams Community Chair for Early Childhood Education at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
In this position, Macy will have a leadership role in a research agenda that focuses on the needs of young children with and without disabilities from birth to age 8. She’s also an associate professor in the College of Education, where she teaches classes to students interested in careers in early childhood education. Her research interests include authentic assessment of children from birth to age 8 with and without delays/disabilities, developmental screening, play and workforce development.
Macy has more than 25 years of experience as an educator. She started her career as a special education teacher in Washington in the 1990s.
Macy holds a doctorate in special education with an emphasis in early childhood special education and early intervention from the University of Oregon. She earned a master’s degree in special education from the University of Oregon and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Washington.
At UNK, Macy says she is excited to work with students to prepare the next generation of educators for careers in serving young children and their families. She participates in the signature program for student scholars – Undergraduate Research Fellows. Part of her collaborations involve the Plambeck Early Childhood Education Center. As the Early Childhood Community Chair, Macy plans to engage with professional communities of practice across Nebraska to promote early childhood education.
The University of Nebraska system has four endowed community chairs collaborating with the Buffett Early Childhood Institute. The Cille and Ron Williams Community Chair was the first.
