Welcome Dr. Kiley McLean, An Advocate for Inclusion
After a successful defense of her dissertation, Adulthood with a Developmental Disability: Defining Health Disparities, Analyzing Current Systems, and Reimagining Inclusive Healthcare, Dr. Kiley McLean, her (newly engaged) fiancé, and her parents celebrated the joyous occasion together. Her family surprised her in Dr. Suess hats to keep with a “Doctor” theme. Since this momentous day, we found time to chat with Dr. McLean and ask her about the past five years in our PhD program.
Much of your time in the program was spent on coursework, teaching, and research tasks. What did you enjoy doing outside of school?
My favorite thing I did outside of classes was coaching and eventually co-managing the East Madison Special Olympics Team! After a loss of funds and infrastructure, a group of us volunteers started our own team and it’s been so wonderful to watch the team grow! So much of the work I do is informed, pushed, and supported by this community. Go Red Lightning!!!!
Along with several teaching awards, you also helped to revamp the current Social Work 840 Advanced Macro Practice syllabus. Reflecting on your last years in the program, do you have any favorite classroom memories?
Most of my favorite memories from my last year in the PhD program are with my master’s students in Social Work 840! It was always remarkable to see how much they accomplished toward their chosen advocacy goal each semester. They are truly social justice visionaries! It’s going to be so special graduating with them this May and I cannot wait to see all they do for the world after!!
And, where are you off to after graduation?
I will be starting a (remote) postdoctoral research fellowship with the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute in June with Dr. Lindsay Shea in her Policy, Analytics, and Community Impact Program. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to hone my health services and disability policy research program further and am thankful to my many, many Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work mentors who got me to this point. Since I’ll still be in Madison for the time being, you might see me still teaching Macro and Disability courses at the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work still!
Congratulations Kiley!