Golnar Abedin
Ph.D., Education Leadership and Policy, University of Maryland
M.A., Special Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
B.A., Psychology, Rutgers University
Dr. Abedin is a visionary leader and educator with over twenty five years of experience in inclusive education. An expert in addressing the needs of students with diverse cultural, developmental and learning profiles, she combines her extensive knowledge with strong leadership skills to innovate and inspire.
In 2011, Dr. Abedin designed the Creative Minds International (CMI) program, rooted in research and best practices in inclusive education. As the founder and leader of CMI Public Charter School from 2012 to 2019, she successfully grew the school to serve over 550 students from preschool to eighth grade. Under her guidance, CMI became renowned for its holistic and innovative educational programming and a continuum of services that catered to the social-emotional and academic needs of students within an inclusive environment.
Dr. Abedin’s leadership earned CMI the national TASH Inclusive Education Award and recognition as the first public school to achieve accreditation in the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). The school was consistently rated among the top charter schools for positive learning environments and student support, with special education students and students of color excelling in academic growth compared to their peers in Washington D.C.
Currently, Dr. Abedin serves as Lead Clinical Faculty in Special Education at the School of Education, American University’s City Teaching Alliance (CTA) Master’s program. Through Inclusive Education Consulting (IEC), she coaches school leaders, teachers, and parents, in implementing inclusive practices, including Universal Design for Learning (UDL), to enhance educational opportunities and outcomes for students.
In pursuit of IEC’s vision for inclusive education, Dr. Abedin actively engages in research and collaborates with like-minded organizations and experts, contributing to initiatives that promote high-quality, inclusive educational opportunities for marginalized children and youth.
Memberships and Collaboration:
American Educational Research Association (AERA)
Comparative and International Education Society (CIES)
Global Campaign for Education (GCE), Inclusive Education and Early Childhood Care and Education Community of Practice
Inclusive Education Initiative, World Bank
The University of Maryland International Education Policy Alumni Group
The DC Special Education Cooperative
