Cynthia Watkins, Ph.D.
Dr. Cynthia Watkins is an Associate Professor of Special Education in the College of Arts and Sciences. She earned her Ph.D. in Special Education and Secondary Transition from the University of Missouri. Dr. Watkins has over 30 years of experience in education teaching both the general and special education fields at the preK-12, university and adult levels. She currently teaches courses in special education pedagogy and is the Program Director of the Belmont/Lipscomb Special Education Consortium.
Dr. Watkins' scholarship interests address concepts of educational best practices. Such practices include authentic assessment, inclusive practices and examination of methodologies for academic instruction for individuals with special needs. Of particular interest is the compatibility and transportability of best practices across cultural groups.
Dr. Watkins is an active member of the International Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Council for Children with Behavior Disorders (CCBD), Division of Learning Disabilities (DLD), and the Teacher Education Division (TED) where she holds appointments as the Chair of the Diversity Caucus and the Small Special Education Programs Caucus. Dr. Watkins has participated on the national and international level as a presenter, program evaluator and journal reviewer.
