Dr. Marcia Nicole Waller

Dr. Marcia Nicole Waller is an assistant professor of special education in the School of Education at Georgia Gwinnett College. She is dedicated to preparing future educators to create inclusive, equitable and engaging learning environments for students with diverse learning needs. Drawing on more than a decade of experience in K–12 education and teacher preparation, Waller combines practical classroom expertise with research-based instructional practices to prepare teacher candidates for today’s diverse classrooms.

Prior to joining Georgia Gwinnett College, Waller served as an English language arts teacher in Rosenberg, Texas, where she strengthened literacy instruction and supported diverse learners through engaging, standards-based practices. She later served as an admission, review and dismissal facilitator in Sugar Land, Texas, coordinating individualized education program meetings, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and supporting compliance with state and federal special education requirements. Before relocating to Texas, she spent nearly a decade as a special education teacher with the Bibb County School District in Macon, Georgia, where she specialized in evidence-based instruction, IEP development, educational technology integration and educator mentoring. Throughout her career, she has also provided professional development in Universal Design for Learning, differentiated instruction, Canvas Learning Management System and instructional technology.

Waller earned her Ph.D. in special education from Liberty University. Her dissertation, Exploring Educator Perceptions Regarding Parental Involvement in Inner-City Alternative Schools and Programs for Students with Behavior Challenges: A Qualitative Case Study, examined educators’ perspectives regarding family engagement within alternative educational settings serving students with behavioral challenges. She also earned a Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education from Georgia College & State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Fort Valley State University.

Her teaching interests include foundations of special education, assessment in special education, inclusive practices, Autism Spectrum Disorder, intellectual disabilities, behavior and classroom management, literacy for diverse learners, assistive technology, differentiated instruction, educational technology and clinical practice. Her scholarly interests focus on inclusive education, teacher preparation, Universal Design for Learning, educational technology integration, artificial intelligence in education, family engagement and equitable opportunities for students with disabilities. Committed to servant leadership and educational excellence, she is passionate about preparing compassionate, reflective educators who are equipped to make meaningful and lasting impacts in the lives of all learners.