Mary D. Lopez, Ph.D., Executive Director
Dr. Mary D. Lopez graduated from Woodbridge High School (and found her way back to Prince William County 30 years later!) and Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. She earned her Masters and Doctorate degrees in Sociology from Northwestern University.
Since her diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis in 1992, she has dedicated her education and career to working with people with disabilities to obtain or maintain their full inclusion in the opportunities of education, employment, housing, transportation, and community. Prior to joining IEC as Executive Director, she had a long involvement with Progress Center for Independent Living in Illinois. While still in her graduate program, she served on their board as the Chair of the Personnel Committee and then Chair of the Membership and Outreach Committee, and as the Board Secretary. After a year off to complete her dissertation entitled “Exercising Control in the Face of Uncertainty: The Case of Multiple Sclerosis and Other Chronic Illnesses,” and with her degree in hand, Mary joined Progress Center in a paid position. She started on the Community Reintegration Team as first an Advocate, and then Co-Coordinator and finished her years at Progress Center as the Program Director.
Mary brought with her to IEC years of experience with the Independent Living Philosophy, the concept of consumer control and the firm belief that people with disabilities do not have to be “fixed” but that the barriers in society that block full inclusion need to be fixed.
Email address: mlopez@ieccil.org
