May Institute Appoints Nicole Barlow as Executive Director of New Autism School in Mansfield, Mass.

09/2/25

Randolph, Mass. — May Institute is excited to announce the appointment of Nicole Barlow, M.A., M.Ed., as Executive Director of its new May School located in Mansfield, Mass. May Institute is a national nonprofit leader in applied behavior analysis (ABA) and evidence-based interventions for autistic individuals and individuals with developmental disabilities, brain injury, and neurobehavioral disorders.

This leadership announcement accompanies the highly anticipated opening of May Institute’s seventh special education school – set to open its doors in the Fall of 2025 – and coincides with the organization’s 70th anniversary. The Mansfield school, a 22,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art campus, will serve autistic students ages 3 to 22, offering an enriched educational environment tailored to the development of communication, academic, social, behavioral, and vocational skills and fostering independence.

Nicole Barlow brings more than 15 years of dedicated experience with autistic students, their families, and partnering school districts. Since joining May Institute in 2010 as a Teacher Assistant at the May School in Randolph, she has advanced through key leadership roles, including Classroom Teacher, Educational Administrator, Director of Education, and Assistant Executive Director.

Her academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Western New England College, a master’s degree in Psychology from Boston University, and a master’s degree in Severe Special Education from Bridgewater State University. She is a licensed special education teacher in Massachusetts and is pursuing licensure in Special Education Administration from Bridgewater State University. In recognition of her exceptional contributions, Nicole received the organization’s Exceptional Service Award in 2024.

In her new role, Nicole will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Mansfield school, leading an interdisciplinary team dedicated to delivering high-quality, individualized instruction grounded in ABA and other evidence-based methods. The school will feature large, bright classrooms, an adaptive gymnasium, library/media center, art and music rooms, cafeteria, gross motor skills room, and a fully equipped adaptive outdoor play area. The school will serve 48 students who require a highly specialized program.

“Nicole’s extensive experience, deep roots within the May Institute family, and unwavering commitment to our mission and the children we serve make her the ideal person to lead our newest state-of-the-art school,” stated Lauren C. Solotar, Ph.D., ABPP, President and CEO of May Institute.

“I am honored to lead the Mansfield school and to work alongside such a dedicated team,” said Ms. Barlow. “We have an extraordinary opportunity to create a learning environment where every student can thrive, build meaningful skills, and experience joy in their education. I look forward to partnering with families and staff to make this vision a reality.”

Autism diagnoses continue to rise—affecting approximately one in 31 children in the U.S., with nearly six million autistic adults nationwide. This new school exemplifies May Institute’s commitment to expanding access to transformative educational services that empower individuals with developmental disabilities to reach their full potential.

About May Institute
May Institute is a nonprofit organization that is a national leader in the field of applied behavior analysis and evidence-based interventions, serving autistic individuals and individuals with other developmental disabilities, brain injury, and neurobehavioral disorders. Founded 70 years ago, we provide a wide range of exceptional educational, clinical, and rehabilitative services across the lifespan. For more information, call 800.778.7601 or visit www.mayinstitute.org.