Dawn Rowe is from North Carolina but recently moved to Tennessee from Eugene, Oregon, after being a research faculty member at the University of Oregon for the past nine years. She was recently named editor of “TEACHING Exceptional Children,” a bimonthly journal about special education.
She received both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Appalachian State University but gravitated toward ETSU because of her interest in obtaining a tenure-line faculty position here. ETSU’s values of research excellence and strong emphasis on supporting student achievement are just a few of the reasons why Rowe fell in love with the university.
“My accomplishments in university teaching and research, paired with my 12 years of experience as a special education teacher and transition specialist in the K-12 school system, have allowed me to advance my career and make significant contributions to the field of special education,” said Rowe.
As a faculty member in higher education, Rowe felt responsible for helping assist educators in developing knowledge and expertise to help them grow in their careers. She worked in several pre-service programs to do that but felt like she could do more.
Rowe said she wanted to be the editor of “TEACHING Exceptional Children” because it is the flagship journal for bridging the gap between research and practice, and as she had been a consumer of the journal for many years, she felt like it had been influential in her own practice.
The journey to becoming the editor wasn’t easy. It was competitive, and after submitting her application, she participated in three separate interviews – one face-to-face, one via Zoom and one via phone. She was finally selected as the editor and officially started in July of 2019.
“So far it has been an excellent experience,” said Rowe. “I enjoy reviewing articles and providing feedback and guidance to authors. I also think the journal is making progress toward its mission, which is to highlight rigorous research and provide practical application of the research for teachers and other service professionals.”
Rowe’s career started 15 years ago when she was about 15 years old. She was required to complete an internship in high school, and she did so at Holy Angels in Belmont, North Carolina. She obtained employment there after the internship, which was the beginning of her lifetime career. She has served individuals of all ages over the years, and she hasn’t forgotten one.
“My research and scholarship focus on four main areas of research: evidence-based practices and predictors of post-school success for students with disabilities, family engagement in special education, life skills interventions and professional development,” she said. “I conduct high-quality research, teach graduate level courses and engage in service. As each opportunity presents itself, I have accomplished new tasks, developed new skills and worked hard to become an integral faculty member.”
