Speakers Friday, May 5, 2023
How do people with disabilities physically navigate a college campus where many buildings can be quite old? How could people who process information differently from the traditional mainstream successfully complete coursework? What considerations do they all need to contribute to a creative community? Lipscomb University has IDEAL just for these situations.
Dr. Misty Vetter Parsley is a professor and the Executive Director of the Office of Accessibility and Learning Supports at Lipscomb University. She has bachelor and master degrees in Speech Language Pathology and a doctorate degree in Special Education Administration. She has dedicated her career to students with disabilities, previously serving as an autism consultant and special education coordinator in public schools. She has presented both locally and nationally on autism and postsecondary education topics. Misty’s passion is including people with disabilities in all aspects of the community and ensuring that they have the same opportunities to participate as do all other individuals. She started the IDEAL program, Igniting the Dream of Education and Access at Lipscomb, in January 2014 for students with disabilities who would not otherwise be able to attend college. She is launching BEST, Bisons Excelling and Succeeding Together, for degree-seeking students with disabilities in the Fall of 2023. Misty has also served on numerous nonprofit boards including Autism TN, Disability Rights TN, Genesis Academy, and the Southeastern Postsecondary Education Alliance.
Our Current Speaker Schedule
Recent and Future Speakers
| 10/24/25 | Hannah Alexander Social Security | ||
| 10/31/25 | Senior Director of Sustainability and Resilience — Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities – How is Nashville on the list | ||
| 11/7/25 | Norah Buikstra, Green Hills Mall GM & Chair of the GH Alliance | ||
| 11/14/25 | Mark Fenelon, Owner, Mossy Ridge Construction — Reduce Energy Usage by 90% with a Passive Home, A New Trend in Building | ||
| 11/21/25 | Jamie Maresca — Shalom Hospice Volunteering: What Can I Offer to Others? | ||
| 11/28/25 | Have a Blessed Thanksgiving — no meeting | ||
| 12/12/25 | Robert Johnson, CEO Mid Tn Scouts | ||
| 12/19/25 | Wlliam Kenneth Teets, Director Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory | ||
| 12/26/25 | Have a Blessed Holiday — no meeting |