Michelle Marigliano

As a working mother returning to school, Michelle Marigliano had concerns about adjusting to academic expectations while maintaining her family and work commitments. Nevertheless, she knew her Sarah Lawrence College experience would provide her with opportunities to advocate for her two children with special needs and extend her work as a teaching artist with Young Audiences New Jersey.

For Michelle, the most enjoyable aspect of being a student at Sarah Lawrence was writing conference papers. Thanks to the proactive support of her professors, Michelle used her conference assignments to gain a deeper understanding of the social, emotional, and academic needs of her own children.

Some of her conference work includes: "Autistic Awakening: The Female Journey to Diagnosis," "Elevating Participation: Democratic Principles for Education and Community Participation," "Sensory Processing Differences and the Stress Response System," "Liberty and Justice for Who? The Effect No Child Left Behind has on Special Education," and "The Process of Resilience: Supporting Your Child when Things get Tough."

Although, at times, it was a challenge to distill the subject matter of her conference work, the creative process has been invaluable, Michelle says.

After earning her undergraduate degree from Sarah Lawrence, Michelle was accepted into the college’s Child Development MA program. In September 2011, Young Children—a peer-reviewed early childhood journal—published her article and teacher's guide, "Move your Body, Build your Mind."

She is also the recipient of a Talbots Corporation scholarship, which provides funding for women pursuing a college degree later in life.