Thomas DiPaola is the director of Johnson & Wales University’s Educational Leadership Doctoral (EdD) Program. DiPaola has more than thirty years of experience developing, implementing and evaluating educational programs and services for children and adults, from pre-kindergarten through higher education in public schools, institutions of higher education and state agencies. His educational leadership positions in Rhode Island have included superintendent of Westerly Public Schools and state director, Office of Special Populations. He also served as assistant superintendent, Special Education for Providence and director of Special Education in Pawtucket and Central Falls. DiPaola is an adjunct professor and special lecturer at Rhode Island College and Providence College, where he directed the Rhode Island Technical Assistance Project for eight years. He has received the Rhode Island Rehabilitation Association George F. Moore Award for “distinction in innovation and coordination of services with disabilities” and the Gerald Groden Center Service award for “leadership in development and implementation of special education services.” DiPaola also won the TechACCESS Center Assistive Technology Advancement Award “for outstanding contributions to the field of assistive technology.”