Comeau to the Curtis Blake Center
Lorri L. Comeau of Hampden has been named the new Executive Director of the Curtis Blake Center at American International College. The announcement was made recently by AIC Provost Dr. Todd G. Fritch.
Through the generosity of Curtis L. Blake, co-founder of Friendly Ice Cream Corp., the Curtis Blake Center was founded in 1969 with the mission of developing and administering programs to enrich the lives of students with learning disabilities.
Comeau previously served as the Director of the TRIO Student Support Services Program at Westfield State University where she oversaw the $1.3 million U.S. Department of Education grant serving students with disabilities, first generation college students and low income students.
At Landmark College, in Putney, Vt., Comeau worked as an Education Specialist with the Landmark College Institute for Research and Training. In this position, she traveled nationally, training educators in a wide variety of disability related topics. She also served as a Faculty Supervisor with the Advising Department at Landmark.
Comeau recently co-authored The Essential Six, Volume One, A Parent's Guide: How to Pave the Road to Self-Advocacy for College Students with Learning Differences through the Association in Higher Education and Disability (www.ahead.org). The book focuses on the development of self-advocacy skills for students with learning differences, and how parents, educators and disability service provider can encourage and support the development of these skills.
"I believe the Curtis Blake Center is a leading resource for Western Mass. educators, parents and students with information about learning differences and how students can be successful," said Comeau. "Our programming and instruction are informed by the most current relevant research; the Curtis Blake Center staff provides a remarkable level of expertise. Our goal is to expand, strengthen and enhance current program offerings in order to support more students, parents and educators in their quest for knowledge about learning differences and the strategies needed for success."
Comeau will manage a staff of 75 full and part time employees in three different locations. Currently, she is responsible for five major service programs supporting students with learning differences including the Curtis Blake Day School, Tutorial Services, the Summer Instructional Clinic, Diagnostic Services and the AIC Supportive Learning Services program.
A graduate of Westfield State, Comeau earned her master's degree from UMASS Lowell.
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