Our Students & Alumni

Dr. Morgan Friedman graduated with her Ed.D in Intellectual Disabilities and Autism from Teachers College at Columbia University in December 2017. Currently, she is a Doctoral Lecturer in the Learning Disabilites program at Hunter where she holds a number of leadership positions. Dr. Friedman has also worked in Los Angles, California at Loyola Marymount University School of Education as a Clinical Professor of Special education from 2018-2023. She was the Director of the Special Education program, created a dual credential in general and special education, and wrote many of the courses in the program which has received both state and national accreditation. Prior to higher education, Dr. Friedman was a full time special education teacher in NYC for seven years, teaching elementary through high school in self-contained and inclusion settings, located in public, non-public, and private schools. Dr. Friedman has conducted research in parental involvement in special education, special education teacher retention and attrition, and inclusion, to name a few.

Yanru Chen, Ph.D., BCBA, is a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Autism in the Department of Learning Sciences in the College of Education and Human Development at Georgia State University. She directs the Language, Literacy, and Executive Function in Autism (LEXA) lab. Her research focuses on language, literacy, and communication development in verbal and minimally verbal autistic children, with a particular focus on the role of executive function. Dr. Chen has over a decade of experience working with autistic children and their families in both school and research settings as an early childhood special education teacher, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a trained and reliable ADOS clinician, and a researcher. She has published across several top-tier autism journals, including Autism Research, Molecular Autism, and the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Her work was also selected as Featured Research at the International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting and was spotlighted in the Autism Science Foundation science podcast.

Dr. L. Beth Brady is an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Blind/Visual Impairments and Severe/Multiple Disabilities Programs at Hunter College, City University of New York. Dr. Brady started as an adjunct lecturer at Hunter College in 2016, teaching foundation classes on severe and multiple disabilities, in addition to hosting numerous Hunter student teachers in her middle school classroom over the years. Previously, she worked as an itinerant teacher of students with visual impairments in the New York City Public Schools, after beginning her career as a classroom special education teacher of learners with severe/multiple disabilities in New York City’s District 75 and at the Boston College Campus School. She completed her Ph.D. at Teachers College, Columbia University in Special Education, with a focus in Intellectual Disability and Autism. Dr. Brady received both her B.A. in Elementary Education and American Heritages and a M.Ed. in Severe Special Education, with a concentration in deafblindness, from Boston College. Her particular research interests are in the areas of communication, alternate assessment, deafblindness, inclusion and urban teacher preparation.

Lauren E. Andersen earned her Ed.D. in Intellectual Disability/Autism at Teachers College, where she also obtained her master’s degree in Multiple and Severe Disabilities. Lauren holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Providence College in Rhode Island. She has over ten years of experience in working as a special education teacher in both elementary and secondary settings. Lauren also works as a neurodiversity consultant with the organization All Star Code. Most recently, she completed a certificate program which will enable her to work as a school building and/or school district leader. She has aspirations to obtain a school leadership position in the field of special education in the future.

Christianna Lockett (M.A. ’24, Developmental Disabilities) is currently a doctoral student in Occupational Therapy at Baylor University Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences. Since graduating from Teachers College, Columbia University, she has focused her work on supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families through research, advocacy, and education. Her doctoral capstone project centers on educating and supporting families of African American youth diagnosed with developmental disabilities in the Deep South. Christianna credits her experience at TC with preparing her for this next stage of her academic and professional journey. She especially values the mentorship and encouragement she received from faculty and staff, whose guidance made a lasting impact on both her educational experience and future goals.

Aliza Nazir (M.A. ’25, ID/Autism Dual Certification) is currently a Ph.D. student in Counseling at The George Washington University. After graduating from Teachers College, Columbia University, she continued her work at the intersection of education, advocacy, and human development. While at TC, Aliza conducted research and taught special education in New York City public schools, experiences that continue to shape her approach as a scholar and practitioner.  At GWU, she serves as both an academic coach, supporting undergraduates through the academic and personal transitions of college life, and a Digital Ambassador, helping amplify the university’s community and mission. Aliza credits TC with providing not only a strong professional foundation, but also a lasting sense of community and mentorship that continues to influence the clinician, coach, and advocate she is becoming.