Melinda Roden(Mindy) is a graduate research assistant and works as part of the external evaluation team for NAAC. Mindy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education in 1992 from Tennessee Technological University, her Master of Arts degree in Special Education/Applied Behavioral Analysis from The Ohio State University in 1993, and her Master of Education degree in Education Administration and Supervision from Arizona State University in 2000. Mindy is currently a doctoral student in special education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Mindy’s research interests focus primarily on the impact of federal and state policy on district and school level program development. Currently, she is investigating the impact of state policy on who participates in alternate assessments. Previously, Mindy worked in residential homes for children and adults with developmental disabilities designing behavior intervention programs, taught special education for six years, and worked as an assistant special education director.