Professor, Special Education
School Psychology and Early Childhood Studies
University of Florida
Dr. Mary McLean is a core faculty member of the University of Florida’s Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies and a professor of special education and early childhood studies in the School of Special Education, School Psychology, and Early Childhood Studies. She has been a member of the Episcopal Children’s Services Board of Directors since June of 2017.
Dr. McLean is highly regarded for her research on assessment strategies for young children with disabilities and for her work on the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Recommended Practices for Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education. She moved to the University of Florida after 17 years on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she was the Kellner Endowed Professor in Early Childhood Education. Also at UWM, she directed the Early Childhood Special Education program in the School of Education and served as director of the Early Childhood Research Center, an interdisciplinary center focused on research and development in early childhood.
Prior to UWM, Dr. McLean was at the University of North Dakota and Auburn University. She has received numerous grants and awards, co-authored seven books, and authored or co-authored numerous journal articles and book chapters. She has also served as president of the professional organization for early intervention/early childhood special education, the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children.