Shelly Lovelace

Shelly Lovelace joined the Virginia athletics department as a learning specialist in 2012. She works with student athletes to develop strategies for academic success and collaborates with UVA’s Student Disability Access Center (SDAC) on academic accommodations for student athletes with learning or attention disabilities.

Lovelace also uses a data-driven approach to coordinate strategic tutoring and other academic support services.Prior to joining the athletics department, Lovelace taught multiple special education courses at UVA from 2009 to 2012 as a doctoral student. She has presented research projects and poster sessions at national special education conferences and served as guest reviewer for several special education journals and conferences.

She worked as a high school special educator in Pittsylvania County, Va. from 2004 to 2008 as a case manager and classroom teacher for students with disabilities.

Lovelace earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Virginia in 2004 and completed her master’s of education, special education at Averett University in 2007. She earned her Ph.D. in Special Education from UVA’s Curry School of Education in 2015.