Two Boston College Lynch School alumni—Carly Blustein Gilson and James Sinclair—have been recognized with the prestigious Council for Exceptional Children Division Research’s (CEC-DR) Martin J. Kaufman Distinguished Early Career Research Award.
This honor celebrates exceptional scholarly contributions in special education within the first decade of earning a doctorate degree. The award highlights innovative and influential research that advances both theory and practice in the field, underscoring the importance of early-career scholars in shaping the future of special education research and policy.
Carly Blustein Gilson
Carly Blustein Gilson, M.Ed. ’11 (Curriculum and Instruction), is now an associate professor of special education at Ohio State University. While at the Lynch School, she completed her studies in Secondary English Education.
Gilson’s research focuses on improving postsecondary and employment outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her work emphasizes inclusive higher education, school-to-work transitions, and collaborative support for students, families, and educators.
Recently, her work has supported the development of inclusive postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as professional development initiatives that help educators and support teams to better prepare students for the transition to higher education and employment.
“Educational inquiry, at its best, is a relentless pursuit to ensure that the evidence discovered in a research context actually makes its way into practice to transform and improve the lives of educators in classrooms as well as students and their families," Gilson expressed.
She noted that receiving the award represents an important milestone in her career, reflecting years of collaboration with mentors, students, and colleagues. Gilson also emphasized her early connection to the Lynch School as foundational to her trajectory in special education research.
“I consider this award to be a milestone that marks the culmination of many years of innovation and collaboration with mentors, students, and colleagues. I was first introduced to special education research as a graduate student at BC, so I’m especially grateful for this recognition from my alma mater. Go Eagles!"
James Sinclair
James Sinclair, M.A., ’09 (Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology), M.A., ’11 (Mental Health Counseling), is currently an assistant professor of special education at the University of Arkansas.
His research focuses on the transition to adulthood and young adults with disabilities, with the aim of supporting positive postschool outcomes like access to postsecondary education and competitive and integrated employment. Sinclair is interested in the intersection of disability and mental health, with a concentration on that intersection's influence on students’ academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and other life outcomes.
In discussing what this recognition means to him, Sinclair noted that the award reflects years of meaningful collaboration and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for young people with disabilities. He emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary work in shaping his research and its impact.
“It is a recognition of a lot of meaningful collaboration and hard work with the mission to have a positive impact on the outcomes of young people with disabilities. It is because I have been able to be interdisciplinary in my work and connect mental health to adolescent development and special education that I was awarded the DR Outstanding Early Career Research Award.”
Sinclair also reflected on the role his time at Boston College played in shaping his scholarly foundation and professional path. “I give a lot of credit to my time at Boston College through the Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology Program and the Mental Health Counseling program for giving me foundational knowledge and applied experiences that led to my work as a Ph.D. scholar, researcher, and now faculty member at the University of Arkansas.”
He added a final note on the significance of receiving the award alongside a fellow Boston College alum and collaborator:
“It is also an honor to receive this award with my colleague and friend, Dr. Carly Gilson. Our Boston College connection allowed us to have our first conversations about special education. From there, our collaboration has been insightful and rewarding. She is an extraordinary scholar, and I look forward to our continued work in the field together.”
—James Sinclair, M.A. ’09, M.A. ’11
Assistant Professor, Special Education, University of Arkansas
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