Dr. Nicci T. Dowd has always believed that every child deserves to feel seen, included, and supported just as they are. Today, she helps make that dream a reality as a professor, writer, and advocate. At Marymount University, she serves as an Assistant Professor of Special Education and Lead Faculty Doctoral Mentor. She teaches many courses, including Foundations and Characteristics of Exceptional Learners and Diagnostic and Corrective Literacy. Through these classes, she helps future teachers create classrooms where everyone belongs and can succeed. Dr. Dowd earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Regent University in 2020 and received the Outstanding Research Award for her work exploring the lives of African American young men with disabilities and their families. This research inspired her to start a support group for families of young adults with disabilities. It is one of many ways she connects her research to real-life action. Her work also explores how schools and communities can become more inclusive and how tools like artificial intelligence can help teachers better support their students.
She grew up in Washington, D.C., in a family that has been helping others for generations. Dr. Dowd is a descendant of John F. Cook, a teacher and activist from the 1800’s, and Helen Appo Cook, who helped found the National Association of Colored Women. Their motto, Lifting As We Climb, has always inspired her. Even before she knew about her family’s history, she was already living by that principle, and it continues to guide her work today.
Ed.D. in K-12 School Leadership,
Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA;
M.Ed. in Special Education, Marymount University, Arlington, VA;
B.S. in Social Psychology, Park University, Parkville, MO.
THE STORY OF MAJ
Megastar Books Wizard Award Recipient
50 Beautiful Hardcover Books
will be donated to classrooms in
two schools in eastern Uganda
thanks to the support and generous
donations from our Megastar Wizards who through their
generous financial support for our authors help promote meaningful literacy programs across the universe.
REACHFORUGANDA.ORG
This spring, a team of Marymount University educators traveled over 7,000 miles to rural eastern Uganda on a journey marked by connection, collaboration and the shared pursuit of meaningful education...Dr. Nicci Dowd, Assistant Professor of Education, led a group of diverse educators to the Bududa District from April 9-19 to provide teacher training and professional development through Marymount’s longstanding partnership with REACH for Uganda.
