Kathryn L. Fialkowski

Assistant Professor

Dr. Kate Fialkowski is an assistant professor specializing in disability studies in the School of Education at the University of Delaware. Dr Fialkowski situates disability in cultural contexts including disability culture which emphasizes DuBois’ theory of double consciousness. Through her research, she has developed a taxonomy of disability genres by which to explore and select disability narratives used in pre-professional educational programs. As an educator in the field, she created and taught original courses about disability ethics and has served as guest-lecturer in other courses. 

Dr. Fialkowski is a lifelong disability advocate and has held policy and advocacy positions including Executive Director of The Arc Maryland and Joseph P Kennedy, Jr. Public Policy Fellow at the Administration on Developmental Disabilities in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Members of the Fialkowski family were pioneers in the Intellectual Disability movements for the Right to Education including the PARC court cases, Right to Community Living and Right to Employment. 

Dr. Fialkowski completed her Ed.D. in Higher Education at Temple University and also holds an M.T.S. in Theology with an emphasis in bioethics. Prior to earning her graduate degrees, Dr. Fialkowski was a business executive, serving as President of Pinova Division Hercules and Senior Vice President at Bank of America’s Credit Card Division, where she was also an Executive-in-Residence at MIT Media Labs Center for Future Banking.

Educational Background

• Ed.D., Higher Education, College of Education and Human Development, Temple University, Philadelphia PA.
• M.T.S., with an emphasis in Bioethics, John Paul II Institute at the Catholic University of America, Washington D.C. 
• B.A., Scientific and Technical Writing, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green OH.

Disability-Related Professional Experience

• Assistant Professor, School of Education, University of Delaware, 2024–present
• Adjunct Professor, Disability Ethics, Center for Urban Bioethics, Katz School of Medicine, Temple University 2017–2023
• Adjunct Professor, Disability Studies, College of Education and Human Development. Temple University 2016–2023
• Faculty Advisor and Graduate Program Coordinator, Disability Studies Graduate Program, 2017–2023
• Director of Academic Programs, Institute on Disabilities, College of Education and Human Development, Temple University, 2016–2023. 
• Executive Director, The Arc Maryland, 2011–2014
• Joseph P Kennedy, Jr. Public Policy Fellow, Administration on Developmental Disabilities, US Dept. of Health and Human Services, 2010–2011

Recent Grants

• Fialkowski, K.,(Proposal writing coordinator, grant collaborator). Administration on Community Living, UCEDD Core Grant, 2018-2022.
• Fialkowski, K., Center for Humanities at Temple (CHAT). Annual internal programming mini-grant, 2016-2017, 2017-2018,2018-2019, 2019-2020. ($3000-8000)
• Fialkowski, K., President’s Arts and Humanities Grant, Office of Vice President of Research, Temple University. ($10,000)
• Fialkowski, K.,(Executive Director). DDCouncil Grants: Hispanic Outreach, Anti-bullying curriculum (K-12 and out of school time network)
• Fialkowski, K., (Executive Director). MD Department of Health and Human Services Grant: “Ask Me”

Recent Professional Awards

• American Association of University Women (AAUW) Career Development Fellow, Maryland, 2015-2016
• Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation, Public Policy Fellow. The Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, US Health and Human Services, Washington D.C., 2010-2011
• MIT, Media Labs, Center for Future Banking, Executive in Residence. Cambridge MA., 2008-2009