Mary Jane Brotherson

College of Human Sciences
Established to recognize outstanding performance in enhancing diversity in departmental, college, or university programs at Iowa State University.

 

Mary Jane Brotherson

Professor

Human Development and Family Studies

 

Diversity Enhancement Award

 

For Mary Jane Brotherson, simply discussing diversity is not enough. To provide her students with the skills and knowledge they need to meet a diverse society’s needs, she regularly invites family members and experienced practitioners to present to her classes; includes students in role-playing; and assigns case studies through which students apply what they learn. 

These methods not only make Brotherson’s classes engaging – they serve to instill a sense of perspective in those who will work with families of various races, ethnicities, cultures, and configurations. “Her creative methods create a space for learning deeply just what an actual family’s life might be like,” said one doctoral student.

Brotherson has committed much of her career to enriching the lives of cognitively- and physically-challenged children and their parents. She is currently leading a U.S. Department of Education program designed to prepare doctoral-level students in early childhood special education. She recently received a research grant from the U. S. Department of Education to study how young children with disabilities develop skills of self-determination. Brotherson continues to serve on Iowa’s Early ACCESS Council, which advises the state’s Department of Education in planning and implementing services for infants and toddlers with special needs, as well as their families. She has also worked with the Iowa Department of Education to develop Parents as Presenters, a program that helps parents of children with disabilities gain the confidence they need to speak in classrooms and engage in advocacy efforts.

As one of Brotherson’s nominators concluded, “Mary Jane’s teaching, research, and service exemplifies the dedication to promoting diversity that this award is meant to recognize.”