Marilyn Friend
Marilyn Friend, Ph.D., has spent her career as a general education teacher, special education teacher, teacher educator, and staff developer. She is currently Chairperson and Professor of Education in the Department of Specialized Education Services at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she teaches coursework on inclusive practices and collaboration among service providers. She also currently is serving on the Board of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children. She has consulted with school professionals nationally and internationally (more than 1000 presentations and projects in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia) as they collaborate to educate their students, assisting them to form productive and efficient work teams, to learn the best ways to manage awkward or adversarial conversations, and to communicate effectively with parents. Her particular areas of interest include skills for collaboration, co-teaching, inclusive school practices, team building, shared problem solving, interpersonal communication, conflict and controversy, and home-school communication. She is the author of Special Education: Contemporary Perspectives for School Professionals (2005), Interactions: Collaboration Skills for School Professionals (5th edition, 2007 with Summer 2006 release date) (with Dr. Lynne Cook), Including Students with Special Needs: A Practical Guide for Classroom Teachers (4 th edition, 2006) (with Dr. William Bursuck), and Co-Teach! A Manual for Creating and Sustaining Classroom Partnerships (in press with Spring 2006 release date). In addition, she is the co-producer on a series of videotapes about collaboration, co-teaching, and inclusion, including The Power of Two (2 nd edition, 2005), and the author of more than 45 articles on collaboration, inclusive practices, and related topics.
