Biography

Biography

Dr. Mary E. Little is a Professor and Program Coordinator in Exceptional Student Education at the University of Central Florida. She received her graduate and undergraduate degrees in Special Education and Curriculum and Instruction from the State University College at Buffalo and her doctorate in Special Education from the University of Kansas. Dr. Little has received in excess of $25 million in external funding for research and development from federal, state, and foundation funding agencies including the Institute for Educational Sciences (IES) and the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). She teaches synchronous and asynchronous courses in multiple modes of instruction for the past fifteen years at the graduate and undergraduate levels specifically in mathematics, assessment, instruction, action research, and program evaluation. Dr. Little has attended multiple professional learning courses and workshops offered through the Course Development and Learning offices to enhance virtual instruction. Dr. Little was instrumental in the development of one of UCF’s initial fully online programs at the Graduate level in Exceptional Student Education. In addition, Dr. Little has provided professional development sessions both within UCF and nationally on the topics of synchronous and asynchronous instruction, universal design for learning in the virtual environment, and faculty support for virtual instruction.

Areas of Expertise

Mathematics

  • Assessment and Instruction
  • Action Research
  • Program Evaluation

Evidence-based instructional practices

  • Interventions
  • Teacher efficacy
  • Student learning related to teacher learning
Education

Ph.D. in Exceptional Education
University of Kansas

Awards

  • Teaching Incentive Award
  • University Leadership Cadre member
  • Women’s Mentorship Award
  • Sustained Millionaire Award-External Funding
  • Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Award

Service

  • International Academy for Research in Learning Disabilities
  • American Educational Research Association (Action Research, Special Education, and School Reform SIG)
  • Council for Learning Disabilities (National officer: Treasurer-2006-2009)
  • Learning Disabilities of America (member: Executive Committee)
  • Council for Exceptional Children (Florida division: Former Vice President)
  • Teacher Education Division (Current National Chair – Professional Development: Former National Membership Chair; President: Florida chapter)