Mark Brugger

Mark Brugger (Col ’85 CM) was appointed by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy through the State Board of Education to serve for two years on the New Jersey State Special Education Advisory Council. The council advises on unmet educational needs of students with disabilities and comments on state program plans, proposed rules and regulations, and distribution of funds. We assist with developing reports and policies as well as advising on corrective action and implementation plans. I look forward to working with the Board of Education and my esteemed colleagues on the Council to improve special education in New Jersey and to provide educational opportunity and equality for children with special needs. Along with this volunteering, I also serve on two boards to advocate for people with disabilities: Learning Disabilities Association of NJ and National Special Education Advocacy Institute.

Mark Brugger (Col ’85 L/M) received the 2018 Harrison Sylvester Award from the Learning Disabilities of America. Brugger developed “Spotlight on Dyslexia,” an online conference that draws a national audience. He also designed “Dyslexia: Making It Personal,” a dyslexia simulation presented to hundreds annually at conferences and workshops, and he developed an online literacy training program for educators for teaching students with dyslexia. Brugger also volunteers with ProjectSearch.us, an internship program for students with disabilities who plan to transition directly to the workforce after high school, and he co-founded SKIT (Special Kind of Improvisational Theater), which seeks to improve the social and communications skills of students and young adults with disabilities.