I’m Dr. Bryan Cichy-Parker, …
YOUR teaching coach!
Professor, Author, Thought Partner, and AdvocateDr. Bryan E. Cichy-Parker is an Associate Professor and Chair of Graduate Programs in the College of Education at Pacific University, where he has taught since 2016. His scholarship focuses on the intersections of race, disability, and LGBTQ+ identities in special education. Dr. Cichy-Parker’s research examines disproportionality in special education referrals and placements, culturally responsive teaching practices, and affirming the multiple, intersecting identities of students receiving special education services.
In his role preparing future special educators, Dr. Cichy-Parker prioritizes fostering awareness of educational inequities and developing pedagogical skills to create inclusive learning environments for diverse learners. He has presented his work at numerous national and international conferences, including the Council for Exceptional Children and the American Educational Research Association annual meetings.
Dr. Cichy-Parker’s service reflects his commitments to educational justice and teacher education. He currently chairs Pacific’s Institutional Review Board and the Council for Exceptional Children’s LGBTQ+ Affinity Group. He also serves on the Oregon Department of Education’s State Advisory Council for Special Education.
Prior to his faculty appointment, Dr. Cichy-Parker worked as a K-12 special education teacher and adult basic education instructor. He earned his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota, an M.A. in Special Education from Edgewood College, and a B.A. in Spanish Language and Culture from Concordia College. Dr. Cichy-Parker draws upon these professional experiences and his scholarship to prepare equity-minded, skilled special educators poised to make a positive impact in schools and communities.
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“If you want to teach little kids to read, you should become a reading teacher. But if you want to advocate for the civil rights of students with disabilities, then special education is the right career path. You’ll get to teach reading too, but it’s in the service of always pushing for civil rights and social justice.”
–Dr. Cichy-Parker