Colleen Lelli, EdD
Professor, Education
Colleen Lelli, Ed.D. is a Professor in the Educational Specialists Department and the Director of the Barbara and John Jordan Center for Children of Trauma and Domestic Violence Education at Cabrini University. Dr. Lelli brings over 25 years of experience in the education field. She began her career teaching preschool children and then taught students with various disabilities at the high school level in Pottsgrove, PA. Dr. Lelli, in her 19 years in higher education has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses including Reading methods courses, Special Education methods courses, Domestic Violence Education courses and Autism methodology courses. As a prolific scholar, her research interests include: developing special education advocacy and support; enhancing pre-service and in-service teachers’ knowledge of domestic violence; growing the abilities to support the learning of those who have witnessed trauma; the benefits of Social Emotional Learning; and the importance of systemic changes for supporting self-care. One key focus is using children’s literature to advocate for children with special needs (e.g., helping children of trauma gain resilience). Lelli presents these research interests internationally, nationally, and locally at conferences, schools, and district-wide events, non-profit agencies, and businesses.
Additionally, Dr. Lelli has published and presented while providing teachers and professionals key strategies to support children of trauma to learn effectively in the classroom. Her first book, Trauma Sensitive Schools: Instilling Grit, Determination & Resilience, was published in 2021 by Rowman and Littlefield and focuses on the support educators and other professionals could use to support children with trauma and providing them with the strategies necessary to encourage this vulnerable population.
Dr. Lelli was the grant director for the Office of Violence against Woman Campus Security $100,000 grant in 2013 and a $300,00 grant in 2021. Cabrini University has also been fortunate to be awarded the $30,000 grant It’s On Us PA numerous times and Dr. Lelli managed and implemented those grant activities as well. In May of 2020, she was awarded the Buzzallino Family Faculty Scholars award with Dr. Amber Gentile.
Lelli earned her doctoral degree from Widener University and her dissertation topic Incorporating Domestic Violence Awareness Through an Undergraduate Reading Course Focused on Children’s Literature. Her Master’s Degree in Reading Education was earned at Arcadia University. Dr. Lelli is a proud alumna of Cabrini University (then College) and an honored Cabrini legacy family with her son, Michael, graduating in May of 2022. As a lifelong learner, Dr. Lelli recently completed the certificate program entitled Performance Leadership from Cornell University.
Dr. Lelli has also been awarded numerous awards including the Cabrini University Distinguished Faculty Award for External Service in 2018; the YWCA Exceptional Woman award in March of 2020 and a Norristown High Hall of Fame inductee in 2019. Lastly, she was awarded the prestigious Lindback Award for Distinguishing Teaching in May of 2020.