Executive Board Georgios Sideridis, Chair and Chair of the Advisory Board
Georgios Sideridis, Ph.D. is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Crete. He has been a research scientist with the Center for Social Development and Education at UMASS Boston and a research associate professor at the Department of Psychology at UMASS Boston. He is researching motivation and underachievement, particularly in populations vulnerable to failure such as students with LD. In particular, he is interested in understanding the interplay of emotional factors, personality characteristics, and cognition and their contribution to achievement and well being. Dr. Sideridis has published more than 80 articles in professional journals such as the Journal of Educational Psychology and Journal of Learning Disabilities and has presented in national and international conferences. He is co-editor Learning Disabilities: A Contemporary Journal, and is the associate editor of the Hellenic Journal of Psychology, he is on the Editorial Board of Remedial and Special Education, Assessment for Effective Interventions, Reading and Writing Quarterly, Physical Education and Sports, and has served as an Adhoc reviewer for Psychological Assessment, Behavioral Disorders, Journal of Special Education, Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, etc. He has also served as a Guest Editor for the International Journal of Educational Research and Learning Disability Quarterly and has co-edited the first two of three books on best practices in LD, Research to Practice, through LDW®. He is the Chairman of the Professional Advisory Board of Learning Disabilities Worldwide.
Kevin Mayne, Vice-Chair Kevin Mayne is the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing at Mitchell College in New London, Connecticut. He has been at Mitchell College for 13 years and currently oversees the areas of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Communications/Public Relations. As a result of his commitment to working with students with learning disabilities, he recently created Mitchell’s innovative Post Grad year, Thames Academy. He has been in the field of higher education for 27 years, having also served as Dean of Admissions/Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vermont and Director of Freshmen Admissions at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences in Boston, Massachusetts.
He has won numerous national design awards for his work in publications, advertising and multi-media and has presented nationally on a variety of topics including marketing, institutional branding, fund-raising, learning disabilities and post-graduate year opportunities.
Stephen A. Pantalone, Treasurer
Stephen A. Pantalone, a tax and accounting professional focused on proactive strategies in an ever-changing tax climate, is President of Pantalone Tax and Financial Services, Inc. Mr. Pantalone graduated from Franklin Pierce College with an honors degree in Finance. He also holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from New Hampshire College, Graduate School of Business. Steve's vast background includes years of experience in corporate accounting, taxes, mortgage origination, insurance and retirement planning.
Micheline Malow, Secretary
Micheline Malow, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York. In addition to teaching courses in Exceptional Students and Instructional Strategies for Teaching Students with Learning and Behavioral Disorders, she has presented at numerous professional conferences and published articles on friendship, risk taking behavior, and students with disabilities. Currently she is finishing a co-authored book for Greenwood Press, Adolescents and Risk.
His scholarly work focuses on critical theory, action research, school reform, learning disabilities and educational leadership, postmodernity and schooling. His work has appeared in Education and Urban Society, Academic Exchange Quarterly, Insights on Learning Disabilities, New Labor Forum, Teachers College Records, The Journal of Curriculum Studies and others.
Ioannis Agaliotis, Chair, International Board of Advisors Ioannis Agaliotis, is a Lecturer of Instructional Methodology for students with special educational needs in the Department of Educational and Social Policy at the University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Dr. Agaliotis has presented at national and international conferences and has published articles on inclusive education, assessment and instruction for students with special educational needs, academic and social support for students with learning disabilities.
Chief Executive Officer Teresa Allissa Citro Teresa Allissa Citro is the CEO of Learning Disabilities Worldwide. Ms. Citro is the co-editor of two peer-reviewed journals Learning Disabilities: A Contemporary Journal and Insights on Learning Disabilities: From Prevailing Theories to Validated Practices. In addition, Ms. Citro has edited 4 books and co-edited 4 books on learning disabilities and special education, several of which have received awards. A few books have been translated into Spanish and Arabic.
She has produced 7 award-winning videos on topics of teacher training, selecting colleges/universities, children with learning disabilities openly discussing their feelings, and adults with learning disabilities discussing their past academic experiences. She also co-produced two DVDs one of which is in Greek on teacher training. Ms. Citro also produced an audio CD, The Physician and the Child with Learning Disabilities as a resource for pediatricians.
Ms. Citro sits on the board of Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, and The Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Children’s Mental Health Task Force.
Board of Directors Jordan Rich Jordan Rich has been a fixture on radio and TV for nearly thirty years. In 1996, Jordan signed on with WBZ News Radio 1030 as a fill-in talk host and eventually succeeded his longtime friend and mentor, the late Norm Nathan. Since then, Jordan has hosted the weekend late nights at WBZ and his program is heard throughout much of the U.S. and Canada as well as world-wide on the Internet.
Along with his on-air work, Jordan Rich maintains a full schedule running his audio production and marketing firm Chart Productions, Inc. He has appeared on hundreds of local and national commercials and narrations for such clients as The Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops, Sullivan Tire, The New England Sports Network and Liberty Mutual. Jordan offer’s voice-over classes throughout the year and is responsible for having trained dozens of talented performers. Jordan is often out on the speaking circuit serving as master of ceremonies and auctioneer at dozens of events a year.
Karen Russo, Ed. D.
Karen Russo, Ed. D. is an Assistant Professor in the Child Study Department of St. Joseph’s College in New York., where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate level courses related to elementary education and literacy instruction. Before joining the college faculty, she was an Assistant Principal of a New York City elementary school, a literacy specialist, teacher mentor, staff developer, and adjunct professor at Queens College (CUNY). She has recently joined the panel of the New England/New York Comprehensive Center’s Teacher Quality Collaborative in hopes of improving and maintaining the quality of teacher preparation programs in the Northeastern United States.
Dr. Russo has presented at local, national and international conferences and has published articles on differentiating instruction, enhancing motivation of struggling readers and writers, and effective professional development for teachers. She has served as Guest Editor for Reading Writing Quarterly and Insights on Learning Disabilities.
Nathalis G. Wamba Nathalis G. Wamba, Associate Professor, Queen College, CUNY. He was a Roothbert fellow and the recipient of numerous awards, including the Paul Lomax Doctoral Award for Scholarship and Leadership (1991), the New York University Delta Pi Epsilon Recognition Award (2001), the Teacher Appreciation Award from Brooklyn College (2001), the Samuel Eshborn Service Award (1991), and the New York University Chancellor’s Award for Community Service (1991). He was elected as a board member of Learning Disabilities Worldwide (2007), Board member for the Roothbert Fund Inc. (2003-present), selected as First judge by the Delta Pi Epsilon Dissertation Awards Program Committee (1999), invited to be a sponsor of the Delta Pi Epsilon Alpha Chapter at New York University (1996-2000).
His scholarly work focuses on critical theory, action research, school reform, learning disabilities and educational leadership, postmodernity and schooling. His work has appeared in Education and Urban Society, Academic Exchange Quarterly, Insights on Learning Disabilities, New Labor Forum, Teachers College Records, The Journal of Curriculum Studies and others.
Robin Welch
Robin Welch has been an educator for over thirty years. During that time, he has taught children in grades four through eight as a classroom teacher and as an Educational Technology Specialist. He is currently the Principal of the Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Framingham, Massachusetts.
Mr. Welch serves on the Board of Directors for Jewish Family Services (JFS) of Metro West. He also served as the Chair for the National Principal’s Leadership Network (NPLN), which is affiliated with the Stone Center at Wellesley College. He is a member of the Professional Development Committee for the Massachusetts Elementary School Principals Association (MESPA).
Mr. Welch received the Thomas C. Passios Award, The National Distinguished Principal Award, and was recognized as Massachusetts Principal Of The Year in 2005 by the Massachusetts Elementary Principals Association (MESPA). He also received the National Distinguished Principal Award from the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the United Stated Department of Education the same year. Mr. Welch has also received numerous official citations and recognitions from both the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives for his leadership and commitment to education and helping students succeed.
Mr. Welch served as the Director of Computer Ed. Inc. for a period of fifteen years. This was an International Computer Camp where children attend from around the world to learn about computers and technology. Offerings included, but were not limited to, learning a variety of programming languages, robotics, telecommunications, distance learning development and protocol, video production, and 3-D and virtual reality gaming.
Mr. Welch has also performed in numerous professional, semi professional and community theatrical productions throughout Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut. He has been a featured actor in television broadcast and commercials throughout New England. Mr. Welch has also directed, produced, and choreographed numerous children’s theater productions over the years.
Mr. Welch has been a keynote and/or featured guest speaker at colleges and educational conferences throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Texas, California, and Washington D.C.
