MCIE Award for Support of Students with Disabilities

Dr. Paula L. McMahon

Dept. Chair; Associate Professor, Rehabilitation and Human Services, CHPS

Dr. McMahon is the chair and an Associate Professor for the Department of Rehabilitation and Human Services. During her eight years at MSU Billings, she has taught a variety of courses in rehabilitation and mental health counseling related to the varied aspects of disability for individuals and families.

Her areas of specialization are the Americans with Disabilities Act, Ethics, and disability Rights with a deep commitment to community integration, inclusive employment practices, factors impacting disclosure of disability, and transition for students with disabilities into post-secondary opportunities. She has presented numerous times on the national, state, and local level on these topics.

One of her students noted that Dr. McMahon “has gone above and beyond to make sure students with disabilities get access to her materials.” Dr. McMahon has truly been an advocate of her students encouraging them in their academic journeys towards realizing their dreams.

“She is a brilliant professor who is not afraid to have difficult conversations with students who want to enter the mental health profession,” one nominator wrote. “She will also have conversations with people with opposing viewpoints with patience and empathy.”