Nigel Pierce

Dr. Nigel P. Pierce serves as the Director of NCCU Thrive, the Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) program at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), where he leads strategic initiatives to provide educational opportunities for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). His academic foundation is deeply rooted in special education, holding a Ph.D. in Special Education (Autism and Developmental Disabilities) from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.S. in School Administration and Supervision from Johns Hopkins University, and a B.S. in Early Childhood/Special Education from Bowie State University.

Before entering higher education leadership, Dr. Pierce gained extensive practical experience working directly with individuals with disabilities as a special educator and paraprofessional specializing in autism and developmental disabilities within Prince George’s County Public Schools in the state of Maryland.

In his current leadership capacity, Dr. Pierce oversees the day-to-day operations of NCCU’s IPSE program, Thrive, including curriculum development, student support services, and the management of the program budget. His professional expertise is heavily informed by his research on postsecondary transitions for students with autism, specifically his work on video self-modeling interventions.

At NCCU, he served as Coordinator for the Special Education Program and is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. In this role, Dr. Pierce’s work involves developing specialized coursework such as "Methods for Teaching in the Adapted Curriculum" and "Transitions Early Intervention & Adapted Curriculum" to support the success of diverse learners.