Cathy Haarstad hold's a master's degree in special education. She has over 30 years of experience in education and service. Cathy has served as a special education teacher working with minority populations, a support provider for adults with developmental disabilities and a family support specialist. Cathy is the parent of two children with disabilities. She coordinates efforts to bring consumer perspective to grant projects, directs projects of National Significance in family support and transportation and serves on several statewide advisory committees. Cathy currently coordinates the ND Family Connections Conference. She is an adjunct faculty member at MSU, teaching both on campus and online courses in special education.

Areas of expertise: Behavior intervention, students with severe/multiple disabilities, sexuality education for persons with DD, family support.