The Department of Teaching and Learning

Karen Vickery, Ed.D.
Program Director & Adjunct Lecturer

Dr. Vickery has taught in the public schools of Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas for 35 years—teaching grades 2-6 in elementary school and reading to all levels. Dr. Vickery has been active in the field of dyslexia and related written-language disorders in the capacity of teacher, therapist, public school administrator, and University Program Director.

·         In 1982 she helped establish the Multisensory Learning Center at the First Presbyterian Church in Greenville and served as the Center Director until 2002.

·         Since 1995 she has served as the Dyslexia Coordinator and Reading Coordinator for Special Programs for the Greenville Independent School District.

·         In 1999 she joined the staff of Southern Methodist University’s Learning Therapy Program as the Introductory Course Coordinator. 

·         In 2001 she became the Director of the Learning Therapy Program at SMU, and she has recently been instrumental in the accreditation of the LT Program through IMSLEC.

·         In 2002 she played a key role is establishing Academic Enhancement Workshops for youth that are offered during the summer, fall, and spring semesters.

Dr. Vickery is a nationally respected dyslexia specialist; she currently teaches graduate-level courses at SMU through the Learning Therapist Graduate Certificate Program.

She has served on many task forces and committees for the Texas Education Agency and served as a resource for both public and private schools.  She has been a guest speaker at parent and professional organizations at local, state, and national levels and conducted numerous in-service programs and teacher workshops since 1975.  She received the 2002 Excellence in Education Award presented by the Dallas Branch International Dyslexia Association; Alumna of the Year 2001-2002 from Williams Baptist College, Walnut Ridge, Arkansas; and Key Communicator Award, Greenville Independent School District.  In 2008, Dr. Vickery received an International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC) Innovator Award as an Outstanding Educator in a University at the annual meeting of the IMSLEC in Seattle.  Click here to see the announcement

Professional Memberships

·         Dallas Branch ODS (IDA) Board

·         ALTA Board

·         ALTA Centers Council

·         IMSLEC Council

Dr. Vickery’s degrees include an A.A. from Williams Baptist College, B.S.E. in Elementary Education from Arkansas State University, an M.Ed. in Reading from Arkansas State University, and an Ed.D. in Supervision, Curriculum, and Instruction with a comprehensive minor in Reading from Texas A & M (Commerce).  After receiving her doctorate, she continued her studies to become a Certified Academic Language Therapist as well as an Academic Language Therapist Qualified Instructor as certified by the Academic Language Therapy Association.

E-Mail Dr. Vickery (click here)