Dr. Mary Sweet-Darter

"In providing a comprehensive therapeutic day school for preschoolers with autism, Easter Seals Oklahoma is answering the call to address a nationwide autism crisis," said Dr. Mary Sweet-Darter, associate professor at University of Central Oklahoma.

Headed by Dr. Mary Sweet-Darter, UCO psychology professor, the specialized degree consists of six courses and will take two years to complete.Twenty-eight students are registered for the new program.

Dr. Mary Sweet-Darter

Northeastern State University, Tahlequah; Dr. Mary Sweet-Darter; (918) 456-5511

Mary Sweet-Darter, Ph.D.

Dr. Mary Sweet-Darter

Mary Sweet-Darter, Ph.D., has joined the psychology faculty at Northeastern State University.Although new to Northeastern and OSPA, she is not new to Oklahoma.Dr. Sweet-Darter is returning to Oklahoma after completing a Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a subsequent appointment to the School Psychology staff at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland.The Kennedy Krieger Institute is a multidisciplinary diagnostic center serving children from around the world.Additionally, she served as curriculum consultant to Pace University in new York City, NY, in the area of inclusion and special education.

Before receiving the Johns Hopkins Fellowship, Dr. Sweet-Darter was a member of the School of Education tenured faculty at Phillips University in Enid, OK.Also, while in Enid, she served as Director for the Family Center and the Learning Center, a multidisciplinary family service and educational center.

A longtime advocate for persons with developmental disabilities, Dr. Sweet-Darter has served in various educational, counseling, school psychology, and community-school partnerships. she is a native Oklahoma with a Bachelors from Oklahoma State University, a Masters from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma.

MARY L. SWEET-DARTER, PH. D., is Assistant Professor in Psychology at Northeastern State University.She returned to Oklahoma after completing a Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities post doctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.Previously she was a member of the School of Education tenured faculty of Phillips University of Enid.Her mailing address is P. O. BOX 491, TAHLEQUAH OK, 74465.She can be reached at the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at NEU at 918 456-5511x3020.

UCO is pleased to welcome Dr. Mary Sweet-Darter as the newest faculty member in the psychology department at the University of Central Oklahoma.Dr. Sweet-Darter is teaching courses in the School Psychology Program at UCO.

Dr. Sweet-Darter comes to the University of Central Oklahoma from Northeastern State University's psychology department where she was coordinator of the post-graduate school psychology program.Prior to serving at NSU, she was a clinician and research fellow at Johns Hopkins' Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, and a faculty member at Pace University in New York.Mary grew up in Oklahoma, earned her doctorate from the University of Oklahoma and taught at Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma.While at Phillips, she also directed a community counseling and human services center as well as a school-based services grant in cooperation with the Department of Corrections, Office of Juvenile Affairs, and the local Community Development Support Association.

Mary and her husband, Rev. Jerry Darter have several children and grandchildren living in the Oklahoma City area and look forward to serving at UCO and being near their family.

By Mary Sweet-Darter, Ph.D.