Tom Mihail, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Diversity and Special Education |
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single
moment before starting to improve the world."
Anne Frank |
Multicultural
Education
Inspiring Equity, Inclusion,
and Social Justice |
Tom Mihail is a retired educator. His 50-year career included 10 years as a teacher, seven years as the
Executive Director and Family Counselor of an early childhood special education school, and 33 years
as a professor of diversity and special education at Saint Louis University; Washington University;
Maryville College; Eastern Illinois University; and Purdue University Northwest, where he holds the
rank of Professor Emeritus.
In 2018, Tom was inducted into the Indiana Association of Teacher Educators Hall of Fame. He
received the Hammond (IN) Mayor's Commission on Disabilities Award (1999), the Purdue University
Calumet Outstanding Teacher Award (1997), and the Illinois Department of Human Services Inservice
Leadership Award for Team Development and Peer Training (1993).
Tom earned his doctorate from Saint Louis University, master's from Indiana University at South Bend,
and bachelor's from Indiana University in Bloomington.
An advocate for people with special needs, their families, and service providers, he has made over 300
local, state, national, and international presentations; produced over 100 educational videos; and
authored over 20 publications. Tom is a consultant to schools, agencies, and parent organizations,
and maintains websites devoted to human services, social justice, multicultural education, diversity,
supported inclusive education, and teaching students with diverse learning needs.
He firmly believes that "our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" (Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.) and that "one child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world"
(Malala Yousafzai).
Tom has three sons, a daughter, and six grandchildren.
| Tom's Social Justice and Education Websites |
| Creating Learning Communities |
| Teaching Students with Diverse Learning Needs |
