Catherine Citta

Doctoral Student - Cohort 1

University of Georgia

Catherine is a PhD candidate in special education with an emphasis in early childhood and educational policy from the University of Georgia. Catherine is an individual who lives with disabilities and aims to bring the intersection of disability to all her work. As a doctoral student, Catherine’s research interests include systems change across federal and state disability and early childhood policy, workforce preparation, and family and disabled individuals’ participation in policy creation.

Catherine earned her bachelors in special education with an emphasis in birth through kindergarten from the University of Georgia and later earned a Master of Social Work from Valdosta State University. Catherine holds a graduate certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from the University of Georgia and participated as a trainee in the Georgia Leadership in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (GaLEND) program at the Center of Leadership in Disability located at Georgia State University.

She has previously worked as preschool special education teacher, social worker in child welfare, and as a service coordinator, special instructor, supervisor and trainer in early intervention. Catherine has interned with the Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC) supporting the redevelopment of Georgia’s Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD). Catherine was selected as the 2023 Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation’s Public Policy Fellow and served on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee in the U.S. Senate and with the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities.

Awards