03/13/2026
Dr. Shirley Dawson, Professor Emeritus at Weber State University, received the 2026 Outstanding Leadership Award at the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Convention & Expo earlier this week. This award honors a CEC member who has provided exemplary leadership to the organization at the unit, division, or national/international levels over an extended period.
Dr. Dawson taught in our teacher education department and served as the director of the Teacher Assistant Pathway to Teaching program and as the chapter advisor for the Student Council for Exceptional Children before retiring in 2025. Her impact has lasted long beyond her final days at Weber. “Even now I continue to see her leadership in action as I work alongside her current students in practicum and student teaching roles,” shares Megan Tingey, one of Dr. Dawson’s former students. “While she often calls her students ‘wonderful,’ it is Dr. Dawson herself who truly embodies what it means to be an outstanding professor and leader.”
Congratulations, Dr. Dawson, on this well-deserved recognition! Read more about her award and achievements at exceptionalchildren.org/blog/meet-our-2026-professional-award-recipients