New education professor arrives on Hawk Hill

Mary Sheppard, Ph.D., assistant professor of special education recently joined the special education department at Saint Joseph’s University after previously teaching at Rowan University in New Jersey.

Sheppard is teaching two courses this semester: Foundations and Current Issues in Special Education at the graduate level, and Family, Schools, and Communities Communication Collaboration for undergraduates.

“I am really excited to be part of the community here at Saint Joseph’s University,” Sheppard said. “I am really enjoying getting to know the city more and being close to the zoo and the arts in this area.”

Sheppard is a New Jersey native who has lived in her home state her whole life. Although she works in Philadelphia, she will commute from her home in the central part of the Garden State. While working at St. Joe’s she is planning on “utilizing the resources within the city culturally.”

Sheppard described her experience and the discovery of her calling towards the field of special education.

“I always really wanted to work with marginalized populations, people who are not represented and supported as much,” Sheppard said. “I felt like I always had that social justice slant. I really enjoyed working with children. I realized that after doing some interning and starting my Masters program,
with an undergraduate degree in English. I was hooked, loved it and it was great.”

Sheppard’s journey to find St. Joe’s is similar to that of most students here, echoing the idea that the education department’s mission is a strong selling point to potential students and professors.

“I heard wonderful things from people who hired Saint Joseph’s University graduates as teachers with how prepared they are, which is wonderful,” Sheppard said. “When I came to visit I taught a class and really enjoyed working with the students. I felt that the collegiality of the department was a real strong selling point. The mission was really attractive and made me excited to be part of the community.”

Mallory Mathias ’21, a double major in elementary education preK-4 and special education, was assigned Sheppard as her academic advisor this year. Overall, Mathias thinks that Sheppard has what it takes as a teacher and advisor to fulfill her educational needs in the next four years.

“She is very welcoming and friendly,” Mathias said. “I can tell that she will be a good advisor as I move through my education career.”