Karen Marschke-Tobier Bank Street College of Education, New York, USA

Dr. Karen Marschke-Tobier (1942-2008), was the Director of the Early Childhood Special Education Program and a faculty member of the Graduate School at Bank Street College of Education. In addition to her appointment at Bank Street, Dr. Marschke-Tobier worked as a child therapist in private practice and served as a psychology consultant at the Corlears School for 20 years. She received her training in child psychoanalysis at the Hampstead Child Therapy Clinic in London run by Anna Freud. Dr. Marschke-Tobier also had experience as an early childhood teacher, Head Start consultant, and school social worker. Her special interests included the influence of emotions and the role of play in development and learning as well as school and family connections. Throughout her career she remained deeply committed as an advocate for children, the environment, and public education as a means of fostering change.