Directory & Faculty Profiles

Diane Powell Lent is a special education administrator in rural Northeast Georgia. She has served in the field of education since 1989. She also serves as faculty member at the University of Phoenix (UOP) where she has taught dissertation classes for the past four years. She works part time for a Charter High School in her district as a special education case manager. Dr. Lent received her Ph.D. in Education & Human Resources from Colorado State University in 2008 and an Ed.S in Educational Leadership from Clemson University in 1999. She joined the Leadership Studies and Educational Research Center at UOP in 2015. Dr. Lent has served as Special education Teacher, Special Education Department Head, Autism Specialist, Assistive Technology Director, Transition Coordinator, and Alternative Assessment Coordinator in her county. She is an endorsed mentor for new teachers as well as an advisor for teachers in need. She was recognized as the state of Georgia's Council of Exceptional Children's Teacher of the Year in 2000. She regularly speaks on special education best practices and advises and serves as a resource to surrounding counties in the area of autism and alternative assessments. Dr. Lent’s professional interests include Educational Leadership, Special Education, RTi, Social Skills, Alternative Assessments, Data Collection, Student Transitions, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Her dissertation, Teacher Implementation of Social Skills Instruction for Students with Aspergers Syndrome was republished in 2011 as part of a collection series. She is an active member of the national and state Georgia Association of Special Educators (G-CASE) as well as the National Autism Society (ASA). Dr.Lent is active in a variety of civic and cultural organizations including Habitat for Humanity, The High Museum, and the local women's shelter. Outside of professional interests, she loves to read, hike, and kayak. She enjoys spending time with her children, grandchildren and her four dogs. Dr.Lent can be reached at dlent123@email.phoenix.edu