Dr. Diane Hijos di Bari passed away on May 7, 2013. Dr. di Bari started teaching in the Liberal Studies Program in Fall of 2003. She was a popular and caring professor. She taught our Exceptional Child course (LBST 138) for the program a total of 17 times in the last ten years and impacted the education of hundreds of undergraduates.
Dr. di Bari had tremendous compassion for children and was a leader in the field. She was able to translate the science of exceptional children to individual lives. Santa Clara University and the Liberal Studies Program was fortunate to have her on our faculty.
She is survived by her husband Mike, mother Rosie, brother Brian, sons Paul and Nicholas, and numerous nieces, cousins and extended family. Diane was born in Chowchilla, CA on January 29, 1951 to parents Pete and Rosie Hijos. She attended Chowchilla High School and went on to graduate from Occidental College with a BA in Psychology and Fresno State with a MS in School Psychology.
Diane had an immense passion for helping children. She worked as a school psychologist for Santa Clara Unified School District, providing special education evaluations to identify programs and opportunities for improved learning, education and advancement for students. Diane’s yearning for continual education found her pursuing her own opportunities, taking her to various leadership positions within the school district, her professional organizations, and academic institutions. In 2010 Diane completed her
PsyD in Neuropsychology, focusing on verbal memory and language in Spanish speaking children.
After 35 years of personal and professional achievements, Diane retired in 2012 from positions at Santa Clara Unified School District, Santa Clara University, and Alliant International University. Throughout her career, Diane was honored as an outstanding educator, received lifetime achievement awards and various certificates of recognition for her service to the field of psychology, her students and colleagues.
She will be best remembered for her selfless and humble demeanor in serving others, both personally and professionally.