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First, I'd like to wish you and your loved ones a season filled with joy and laughter. May this good cheer last throughout 2018.
Next, I want to let you know how honored I am to have been appointed the permanent dean of the college. After serving as interim dean, it became apparent to me this was a position filled with opportunities and important challenges that affect our college, our university, our K-12 schools, and Arizona. Increasingly, we are bombarded with negative news about education, but I am passionate about finding solutions to some of the toughest education issues. We also are here to serve as a reminder of what is right with education, the stories we do not often hear.
For those of you who don't know me, I am a professor of environmental learning and science education, and I served as department head of Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies in the college for 10 years. I am a founding co-director of the UA STEM Learning Center, and I am the director of the Earth Education Research & Evaluation Team, conducting research on children's ecological understandings, environmental values, and environmental actions in the U.S. and seven other countries. I also oversee the development and implementation of earth education programs in 14 countries for the Institute for Earth Education. My doctorate is in educational psychology from the University of New Mexico with prior degrees in environmental education administration and elementary education. I was an elementary and middle school teacher in Arizona and New Mexico and director of outdoor schools in New Mexico and Australia.
I look forward to meeting many of you, and if you want to learn more about the work we do, please contact us. We are happy to invite you to see us in action.
Thank you for allowing me to serve this great institution.
Now to the news:
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"Amazing Partnership" Means More
Teachers Stay in Tucson
Dedicated to teaching in Southern Arizona, Arizona Teaching Fellows are UA students who work closely with partner school districts throughout their teacher preparation program.
"This is an amazing partnership in which districts, community members, donors, and College of Education faculty and staff join together to recruit and retain talented teachers throughout the Tucson area," says
Associate Dean Renee Clift. "Investing in teachers means investing in students means investing in the future."
Two Sahuarita Unified School District fellows graduated last year and both now teach in the district.
Now, the program is expanding. College of Education friend and donor
Emily Meschter, who helped get the program off the ground, pledged additional funds for the expansion. In addition, the Esther Scher/Arizona Association of University Women Tucson Branch Endowment, named in
Esther Scher's memory, and a large donation from the College Football Playoff Foundation makes it possible for fellows to be in Tucson Unified, Santa Cruz Valley, and Marana school districts.
Solving Complex Environmental
and Economic Problems
The university received a five-year grant of up to $15 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture to lead a new center focusing on the mass production of biofuels and bioproducts in the Southwestern U.S.
"Researchers at the University of Arizona are ideally positioned to solve complex environmental and economic problems," said
UA President Robert C. Robbins when the announcement was made. "This grant will help us work alongside the community, industry, and partner universities across the Southwest to grow our region's economy while finding cleaner and more sustainable energy sources for the future."
Faculty from the UA Colleges of Education and Engineering are collaborators on the team and will work with regional growers to move toward less water-intensive crops and provide weekly STEM-related activities at K-12 schools in Arizona and New Mexico.
Read more.
Gender-Based Violence Conference
The College of Education was one of the sponsors of the two-day conference that addressed several complex issues and launched the University's Consortium on Gender-Based Violence.
Read more
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Un Abrazo Has Very Long Arms
When a caregiver looks after a family member with cancer, the caregiver often needs support and understanding, as well.
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Marshall created the program. |
Disability & Psychoeducational Studies Associate Professor of Research Catherine Marshall created a far-reaching program,
Un Abrazo Para La Familia (A Hug for the Family), which provides cancer information and support to low-income, ethnically diverse, and medically underserved family members who are struggling with a cancer diagnosis within the family.
Marshall adds, "The program has been found to significantly increase cancer knowledge among low-income co-survivors of cancer. After a simple psychoeducational and skills-teaching intervention, families are in a better position to effectively support their loved ones through cancer. "
Marshall recently held a two-day training session for several promotoras (a promotora is a lay Hispanic/Latino member who receives specialized training to provide basic health education in the community) so that they are prepared to reach out to families when needs arise during and after cancer treatment.
Not only does Marshall work in the college, she also happens to be a grad. She earned a doctorate in rehabilitation in 1985.
For more information about the program, contact
Catherine Marshall
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| Attendees begin the role-playing sessions. |
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| Las Promotoras are ready to go out into the community! |
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Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Brain Trust
About 200 university faculty from across the globe will visit Tucson in February to present research about the education of deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
Read more
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Lee Honored with Global Education Award
Educational Policy Studies & Practice Professor Jenny J. Lee is the recipient of the Excellence in Global Education Award. She has long advocated for international students in all areas of her work. Her research focuses on international student travel within the African continent, which stemmed from her Fulbright experience in South Africa four years ago. She is leading a project to evaluate the newly established micro-campus model of the UA.
Read more
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Are Field Trips a Thing of the Past?
As far as field trips go, the Cooper Center for Environmental Learning is one of the all-around best destinations.
Sadly, field trips are becoming a rarity these days as budgets continue to tighten. Teachers rely on donations to cover costs, and sometimes the money comes out of the teacher's own pocket.
Cooper was featured in
this story about Tucson field trips.
Student Research Showcase & Reception
Come support our graduate students and learn about their remarkable research projects.
DETAILS
The Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs Student Research Showcase & Reception
Tuesday, December 5
3-5 p.m.
Student Union Memorial Center North Ballroom
Making Education a Reality
More than 110 people attended our annual scholarship breakfast, a touching event where scholarship donors get to meet their student scholarship recipient. Guest speakers were
Marie Ruiz of the Richard Ruiz Memorial Scholarship and
Leeann Wieser of the Leeann Jones Wieser Scholarship in Education.
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Alexa Schnaid, Virgie Evanof, George Evanoff, and
Natalie Larea (left to right)
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Barry Roth, Jerald Frey, Emily Bartz,
Snezana Kojic, Devon Moule, and
Patricia Stowers (left to right)
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Linda Shaw, Ana Kroh, Alejandro Menchaca, and Steve Lynn (left to right)
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Homecoming News!
At this year's Wine Harvest Reception, we honored our Alumnus of the Year,
Richard Carranza '91, the superintendent of one of the nation's largest school districts (Houston). When Carranza was a teacher at Pueblo High School, he was instrumental in creating Mariachi Azatlán. We surprised Carranza and his twin brother, Reuben, with a performance by Mariachi Azatlán. They played two songs, then the twins borrowed some violins and played a third with the group. Another surprise for Carranza during the reception: Monique Carranza, Richard's wife, had been working with the college to establish the
Richard A. Carranza Scholarship in Education.
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Ludwig (right) with
Professor Patty Anders |
The event was full of surprises: Two-time alumna
Marilyn Ludwig '52 '56, who spent nearly 50 years teaching generations of Tucsonans as an educator and reading specialist in the Tucson Unified School District, was taken aback when she was honored with the Sidney S. Woods Alumni Service Award. Ludwig still volunteers with local literacy programs and is a very active member of the college's Alumni Council -- and has been since the 1980s!
About 300 people hit the college's Tent on the Mall. The photo booth was a hit (with props, naturally), and the prize wheel was spun by about 150 alumni. Raffle prizes included a plasma TV, a basket from Canyon Ranch, UA swag bags, custom-made jewelry, and gift certificates. More than $1,600 was raised for the Dean John Taylor Scholarship Endowment.
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| Jim Coleman and Allison Coleman '00 |
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| This visitor to the tent was drawn to the fun COE letters. |
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Message from the Alumni Council
What an exciting time it is to be involved with the College of Education! I was privileged to be able to meet with all the candidates for dean of the college. All are excellent educators who excel in their field of knowledge and would offer the college strong leadership. I am so excited that Bruce Johnson will be our dean on a permanent basis, as he is first and foremost a teacher who will bring not only his faculty and staff into the growth of the college, but alumni as well. I am confident his leadership is exactly what we need as education continues to evolve on a global scale. We will have a reception to welcome our new dean, and I hope you'll come so you can get to know him as I have. Welcome, Bruce Johnson!
David Overstreet '80 '86
Alumni Council President
520-621-1375
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WOW Review Hits Number 10
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| Student Grace Fell checks out the latest issue of Wow Review. |
Worlds of Words' fall issues of WOW Stories and WOW Review are published and free to read online or download. This marks a major milestone as this is the 10th volume of WOW Review.
The latest issue of
WOW Review and
WOW Stories, more information, and back issues are available free online at
www.wowlit.org.
Award Time!
Congratulations to all our December graduates, including these stellar award honorees:
COLLEGE AWARDS
Outstanding Senior
Ivan Luna
Outstanding Graduate Student
Xin Zhang
DEPARTMENT AWARDS
Disability and Psychoeducational Studies
Outstanding Senior, Deaf Studies
Julia Calderon
Outstanding Senior, Rehabilitation
Sarah Vicari
Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies
Outstanding Student Teacher, Elementary Education
Alena Laguna
Outstanding Senior, Literacy, Learning & Leadership
Huilin Xu
Erasmus Circle Scholars Reception
Last month, we honored our Erasmus Circle Patrons and their Erasmus Circle Scholars during a reception that brings the two groups together so they can get to know one another.
Erasmus Circle Scholars are outstanding students who show promise in their areas of study and have made contributions to their communities, the college, and the UA.
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| Laura Dent, Michelle Aguilera, and Patrice Brown (left to right) |
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| Trevor Klein, Amber Klein, Dell Bromiel, and Jerry Bromiel (left to right) |
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| Steve Barney, Emily Meschter, James Geiger, and Megan Barney (left to right) |
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| Shirin Antia, Norma Gonzalez, Rebecca Hartzell, Carl Liaupsin, Venna Briggs, and Jeff Briggs (left to right) |
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| Bonne Overstreet, David Overstreet, and Josef Torres (left to right) |
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Congratulations to the 2017 Erasmus Circle Scholars:
Graduate Scholars
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Michelle Aguilera
Ghadah Alkhadim
Robyn Beale
Megan Beardmore
Santiago Castiello Gutierrez
Judith Cooper
James Geiger
Hannah Gomez
Norma Gonzalez
Rebecca Hartzell
Diana Hill
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Amber Klein
Xueyan Li
Janet Liston
Amy McDonald
Ariel McKinney
Yaoping Peng
Jacqueline Scherr
Josef Torres
Brandi Welter
Jennifer White
Eliza Yellow Bird
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Undergraduate Scholars
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Shalina Aguirre
Paige Brown
Ashley Cagnetta
Colin Eischeid
Abigail Gallagher
Sabrina Gauron
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Andrea Jauregui
Ivan Luna
Chelsea Schroeder
Melissa Siegel
Luis Valencia
Betty Yu
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Associate Director of Development Lee O'Rourke is the new interim lead development officer for the college.
Educational Policy Studies & Practice
A graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania said administrators pulled instructors from the classroom over the use of a teaching technique called "progressive stacking," according to a set of messages on Twitter.
Associate Professor Nolan L. Cabrera offered an explanation of progressive stacking. "In college classrooms," he says, "it's very common for people of privileged social identities to dominate conversations."
Read more.
Educational Psychology
Alumnus Scott Behrens '92 is the new vice president for Northwest Florida State College Teaching and Learning.
Read more.
Alumna Saeideh Heshmati '11 '15, a postdoctoral research scholar at Penn State's College of Health and Human Development, and her team interviewed nearly 500 Americans on whether or not they believed most people would feel loved in about 60 different hypothetical scenarios.
The scenarios all started with the phrase "Most people feel loved when..." followed by representations of either support, physical expressions of love, signs of trust, sharing time with others, or possessive scenarios. Control scenarios also were added to the questionnaire. Results revealed that for the most part, Americans agreed on what was a clear display of love and what was not. Heshmati's study has gone viral and she's been interviewed all over the world, including:
Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies
Three-time alumna Debbie Bergman '76 '80 '07 was inducted into the Sunnyside School District Hall of Fame. The induction included
this video of her history of work.
Bergman's mother, Alice Paul, was on our Teaching and Teacher Education faculty and served as head. Professor Paul was the first Native American academic department head at the UA.
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lumna Kari Ann Burris Chew '16, a project coordinator in the college, is the recipient of the Wenner-Gren Foundation Hunt Postdoctoral Fellowship. A member of the Chickasaw Nation, she says the award will aid research and writing on her dissertation study, We Will Always Speak Chickasaw: Considering the Vitality and Efficacy of Chickasaw Language Reclamation.
Assistant Professor Leah Duran wrote this
opinion piece on bilingual education for the
Arizona Daily Star.
UA President Robert C. Robbins and a group of UA representatives visited the Hopi Tribal headquarters and met with community members. Accompanying the group was
Assistant Vice President of Tribal Relations Karen Francis-Begay, a key liaison between the university and tribes. TLS
Assistant Professor Jeremy Garcia, a Hopi tribal member from First Mesa, also accompanied President Robbins. After visiting the Hopi Tribe, the group departed for a tour of Walpi Village in First Mesa then met with Hopi Health Care Center officials and the Hopi High School superintendent and principal.
President Robbins said Garcia is the knot in the rope that connects the Hopi people to the outside world of technology and education, which former and curren
t tribal leaders share as a desire for their community.
Professor of Practice Donna Jurich was quoted in
this article about racism in school curriculum.
And, finally, the college's National Advisory Board wishes you a very happy holiday!
Until next time,
Bruce Johnson
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From Our Development Office
Leverage Your Giving Before December 31
Being strategic and charitable with your appreciated stock and mutual fund portfolio means you would not want to sell your shares yourself (you'll owe a capital gains tax even if you give the proceeds to charity). Better idea: Ask your broker to donate shares directly to a 501c3 charity. 501c3 organizations such as the College of Education are exempt from capital-gains taxes, so you will generate a charitable deduction on the value of your donation on the day you transfer shares to charity. Your original cost in acquiring the shares will be considerably lower than writing a check for the same gift amount. That's smart giving!
The College of Education opens doors to its diverse student population pursuing degrees and careers in education. In the spirit of the holiday season, please consider a donation to the college's General Scholarship Fund or to the Dean's Discretionary Fund to help our students succeed!
For more information, or to make a gift to the college,
please follow
this link
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1430 E. Second Street, Tucson, Arizona 520.621.1462
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