Bio

Dr. Bacon is Assistant Professor of Special Education in the Department of Education at Iona College, New Rochelle, New York. She earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master’s degree in special education from the University of Virginia. Dr. Bacon is a former secondary special education inclusion and self-contained teacher and special education department chairperson. In addition to her experience in special education, she is also trained in the use of poetry therapy and yoga for children with special needs. Her areas of interest include the use of expressive/creative therapies in special education, culturally responsive pedagogy, global education and literacy, African American women’s writing for empowerment and social change, and women’s spirituality. Deeply committed to addressing issues of overrepresentation in special education, gender equity and writing for social justice, Dr. Bacon participates in a number of professional associations and mentoring organizations.

Dr. Bacon has authored such articles as “Culturally Responsive Poetry,” featured in the Journal of Poetry Therapy and co-authored the article “Examining Teachers’ Beliefs about African American Male Students in a Low-Performing High School,” featured in Teachers College Record. Her work has been presented at conferences related to the National Women’s Studies Association, the Society for Phenomenology and the Human Sciences, and the 4th Annual Paris International Conference on Education, Economy & Society. She is the recipient of the 2010 Book-in-a-Day writing fellowship in Italy, Poetry Alive Grant Award, and Pursue the Dream: Chris Mazza Grant Award for Poetry Therapy. She participates in educational, writing, and research projects in the United States, Africa, Europe and Latin America. Dr. Bacon’s book, Sisters in the Dissertation House: A Dissertation Narrative, was released by New Forums Press in 2014.