Dr. Pence is the current President for the Council for Exceptional Children in Tennessee.  She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Elementary and Special Education at MTSU. Her research interests are in the areas of inclusive extracurricular activity participation of students with disabilities and the use of service-learning pedagogy in teacher preparation.  Her current research involves investigating the participation of students with disabilities in extracurricular school clubs.  Dr. Pence also supervises Residency I students in the Interventionist Program, while teaching courses related to the Interventionist Major.  Prior to MTSU, Dr. Pence taught middle school special education in Kentucky for eight years where she served as a resource teacher, co-teacher, and Response to Intervention Math Specialist.  Ultimately, Dr. Pence endeavors to prepare dynamic special education teachers while maintaining strong advocacy efforts for individuals with disabilities. 

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Pence, A. R. (2021). Motivation for Participation in Extracurricular School Clubs for Students with Severe Disabilities. International Journal of the Whole Child, 6(1), 26–37.

Pence, A. R. (2021). The Participation of Secondary Students with Severe Disabilities in School Clubs. AAIDD: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 59(4), 335–351. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-59.4.335

Lindgren, K., & Pence, A. R. (2020). From a Parents' Perspective: Using Assistance Dogs for Children with ASD. International Journal of Social Policy and Education, 2(3), 46–55.

Pence, A. R. & Dymond, S. K. (2016). Teachers’ beliefs about the participation of students with severe disabilities in school-sponsored clubs. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 41, 52-68. doi:10.1177/1540796915626009  

Pence, A. R. & Dymond, S. K. (2015). Extracurricular school clubs: A time for fun and learning. Teaching Exceptional Children, 47(5), 281-288. doi:10.1177/0040059915580029  

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• Pence, A. R. (Co-Presenter), Masters, S. (Co-Presenter), Annual Tennessee Council for Exceptional Children Conference, "Trauma Informed Practice Intervention Training," National CEC, Tennessee Tech University. (October 2022).

• Pence, A. R. (Presenter), TASH, International, "Preparing Teachers to Design Culturally Responsive Systematic Instructional Programs," Virtual. (December 23, 2021).

• Ballard, S., Chung, Y., Pence, A. R., Session at the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, "Access to inclusion during mealtime at school: A qualitative multiple case study," Champaign, Illinois. (May 2020).

• Ballard, S., Pence, A. R., Chung, Y., Session at the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, "Credibility and trustworthiness in qualitative research on inclusive education," Champaign, Illinois. (May 2020).

• Pence, A. R., Ridgley, R., Poster session at the National Association for the Education of Young Children, "EI service providers’ beliefs and preparedness in supporting families of limited financial resources," Nashville, Tennessee. (November 2019).

• Pence, A. R., Ridgley, R., Conference session at the 35th Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families, "EI service providers’ beliefs and preparedness in supporting families of limited financial resources," Dallas, Texas. (October 2019).

• Ballard, S., Pence, A. R., Session at the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, "Application of Qualitative Inquiry for Examining Inclusive Education for Learners with Severe Disabilities," Champaign, Illinois. (May 2019).

• Pence, A. R., Ridgley, R., Poster session at the 34th Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families, "Experiences of families living in poverty accessing and navigating early intervention services," Orlando, Florida. (October 2018).

• Pence, A. R., Poster session at the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities National Annual Conference, "A young adult’s journey to community and leisure involvement," St. Louis, Missouri. (June 2018).

• Pence, A., & Dymond, S. (2016, December). Extracurricular school clubs and students with severe disabilities: Perceptions, participation, and purpose. Paper presented at TASH Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO.  

• Agran, M., Dymond, S., Pence, A., & Thoma, C. (2016, December). Providing full inclusion: Enhancing student participation in extracurricular activities. Research panel invited guest presented at TASH Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO.  

• Pence, A. (2016, December). A young adult’s journey to community and leisure involvement. Poster presentation presented at TASH Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO.  

• Pence, A. & Dymond, S. (2016, November). Extracurricular school clubs and students with severe disabilities: Implications for Teacher Preparation. Paper presented at TED Annual Conference, Lexington, KY.

• Pence, A., & Dymond, S. (2014, December). School clubs: Getting students with severe disabilities involved. Paper presented at TASH Annual Conference, Washington, DC.  

• Dymond, S., Gent, P., & Pence, A. (2014, November). Service learning in teacher preparation: What works? Paper presented at TED Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN.  

• Pickens, J., Pence, A., & Danner, N. (2014, November). Transitions from pre-school to post-school. Paper presented at TED Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN.   
  

• Pence, A. (2014, March).  Participating in community leisure activities: A case study. Round table discussion presented at the College of Education Graduate Student Conference, Urbana, IL.  

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• Letter of Appreciation for Service to Students & University, President's Office, MTSU. (2022).
• Chi Omega Faculty Appreciation Honor, Chi Omega Fraternity. (2022).
• Influential Faculty Member, Phi Kappa Phi. (2021).
• Letter of Appreciation for Service to Students & University, President's Office, MTSU. (2021).
• Influential Faculty Member Award, Phi Kappa Phi, MTSU. (2019).
• Outstanding Instructor, Department of Special Education, UIUC. (2015).
• Outstanding Instructor, Department of Special Education, UIUC. (2015).
• Conference Travel Award, Department of Special Education, UIUC. (2014).
• Conference Travel Award, Graduate College, UIUC. (2014).
• Ranked as Excellent Instructor, Department of Special Education, UIUC. (2014).
• The Margaret Bansau Fellowship Award, Department of Special Education, UIUC. (2014).
• Conference Travel Grant, Department of Special Education, UIUC. (2013).
• Robert Bruce Reinoehl Memorial Award, Department of Special Education, UIUC. (2013).
• University Fellowship Award, Department of Special Education, UIUC. (2012).
• Albin & Young Award, Department of Special Education, UIUC. (2011).
• International Honour Society, Western Kentucky University. (2002).

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