Dr. Alpern is in her 30th year of education having been a high school special education teacher, middle school and elementary school building administrator, and currently a division-level administrator for the past 12 years overseeing special education and other student services such as counseling, nursing, and social work, including serving as division liaison for McKinney-Vento (homelessness) and foster care. With degrees from Syracuse University, George Mason University, and Regent University, Dr. Alpern also teaches at the graduate and doctoral level for both the University of Mary Washington and Liberty University in the areas of special education, educational leadership, and applied research.