Education UJlcr~ttilOITTl 0
College Magazine 2010 O K L A H O M A
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ON THE COVER Frank and Carol Morsani of Tampa, Fla., received honorary doctorates during OSU’s commencement ceremony in May 2010. OSU alumni and longtime supporters of education, the Morsanis have dedicated their resources to serve society. The mathematics, science and occupational education faculty in OSU’s College of Education supported the degree presentation that made the couple only the 17th and 18th recipients of honorary doctorates from OSU. The portrait is by Phil Shockley. (The related story is on page 14.)
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Christy Lang
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INTERIM DEAN, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
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C. Robert Davis
A glimpse of the world OSU College of Education and the School of International Studies introduce fourth-grade children to cultures from around the world at the annual International Fair. By planning and working the event, COE faculty and pre-service teachers share the excitement students experience at the fair. See page 41.
Building tomorrow’s world Alumni make educating tomorrow’s children possible with generous funds for scholarships, without which many future students would be unable to attend OSU.
Leaving the comfort zone The Fulbright experience offers the immersion necessary to understand and embrace another culture, an experience that advances personal and educational growth.
COE COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
Eileen Mustain EDITOR
Paul V. Fleming ART DIRECTOR
Phil Shockley Gary Lawson PHOTOGRAPHERS
Janet Varnum
ASSOCIATE EDITOR CONTACT
THE MAGAZINE
COE MAGAZINE 335 WILLARD COLLEGE OF EDUCATION OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY STILLWATER, OK 74078-4033 COEMAGAZINE@OKSTATE.EDU
COE Magazine is a publication o f t h e O k l a h o m a S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y C o l l e g e o f E d u c a t i o n . I t s p u r p o s e i s t o c o n n e c t t h i s c o l l e g e w i t h its many stakeholders, providing i n f o r m a t i o n o n b o t h c a m p u s n e w s and pertinent issues in the field of education. © Oklahoma State University 2011
Up close and personal Shadowing professionals gives students, such as Kathryn Marquart, a unique opportunity to learn from everyday work experiences.
27 College News 44 Class Notes
When you join the OSU Alumni Association, a portion of your membership comes back to the college to fund programs such as homecoming and other alumni events. Contact the college for more information: 335 Willard Hall Stillwater, OK 74078-4033 (405) 744-8320. education.okstate.edu
Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. Title IX of the Education Amendments and Oklahoma State University policy prohibit discrimination in the provision of services or benefits offered by the University based on gender. Any person (student, faculty or staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based upon gender may discuss their concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with the OSU Title IX Coordinator, Mackenzie Wilfong, J.D., Director of Affirmative Action, 408 Whitehurst, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, (405) 744-5371 or (405) 744-5576 (fax). This publication, #3316, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the Dean, College of Education, was printed by OSU Marketing, University Printing Services at a cost of $4,976. 3,500/Feb/11
From the/I Dean :)~
Greetings,
With your support, along with others in the OSU College of Education (COE) community, we have continued to offer over 30 outstanding academic
programs on two campuses (Stillwater and Tulsa) and via cohort delivery at state and international sites.
Over the past five years, we have focused on seven strategic areas of excellence: academics, student success, outreach, diversity, hiring and retaining outstanding faculty and staff, fundraising and increasing resources, and promoting the College’s identity and recognition. We are pleased to share with you this summary of the College’s accomplishments. D O Y O U K NOW A FUTURE
Ill Hiring and retaining faculty from top programs in their
C O W G I R L OR COWBOY?
respective fields of study
P L E A S E S HARE WITH US
Ill Attaining and/or maintaining eight national accreditations
C O N TA C T INFORMATION F O R A N Y POTENTIAL S T U D E N T S. WE WILL BE G L A D T O SET UP MEETINGS W I T H A N ACADEMIC C O U N S E L OR, TOURS OF T H E C A M PUS OR OTHER A C T I V I T I E S TO HELP THEM E X P L O R E MAJORS IN THE C O L L E G E OF EDUCATION.
CONTACT INFORMATION
(405) 744-3373 robert.davis@okstate.edu education.okstate.edu
Ill Doubling the College’s endowment principal with
planned gifts of over $15 million, 14 additional endowed faculty lines, and almost 30 percent more student scholarships Ill Securing private monies to fund the Watson Student
Academic Success Center to expand and coordinate COE undergraduate student services Creating and implementing clearly delineated diversity initiatives which include the Urban Education Initiative based at OSU-Tulsa
Ill Receiving over 40 external awards including new and
continuing contracts with NASA education valued over $30 million, one of the largest contracts awarded to OSU Increasing partnerships with the private sector, government agencies, and legislators to gain support and enhance resources for programs Ill Improving facilities for five centers and clinics that serve
over 300 families each year in the Stillwater and Tulsa areas Ill Enrolling over 2,000 students annually in online coursework
and serving as a leader in the percentage of online offerings
These achievements resulted from the dedicated work of COE faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other constituents too numerous to list. Several examples of some of our most outstanding individuals are featured in this magazine. You can follow three of our students as they spend a day shadowing OSU alumni in their fields of study. In this issue, we also highlight the Fulbright Scholar experiences of a faculty member and our nationally-ranked occupational education program.
We hope that you find this magazine a valuable source of information about the OSU College of Education and the difference the college is making in the lives of so many. If you are not already a member of the OSU Alumni Association, we invite you to consider joining to ensure that you will stay connected with us and receive future publications from the college. Visit www.orangeconnection.org for information. Warmest Regards,
C. Robert Davis Interim Dean
PORTRAIT GARY LAWSON
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In Their Shadows Shadows All about the business of learning,
education students grab knowledge in and out of the classroom, from faculty, texts, each other. The
College of Education, recognizing firsthand experience as vital to
applied learning, offers various
opportunities for students to align
theory and practice. Shadowing an outstanding professional is one of those methods. On the following
pages, three students share their
experiences as they go to work with professionals.
Vanessa Jech
PHOTOGRAPHY PHIL SHOCKLEY
Vanessa Jech took the long road to find her major, but she eventually discovered the perfect fit. The senior from Kingfisher, Okla., began her college journey studying interior design, but she quickly realized the health field better suited her. She moved into nutritional sciences and dietetics and then into allied health, but neither was quite right. Thanks to her involvement in the student Health Club, Jech found just what she’d been searching for in the College of Education’s health education and promotion program. “I love working with people,” she says. Jech teaches spin classes at the Colvin Center on campus as she works toward certification for personal training and group fitness. The opportunity to shadow OSU alumna Kerry Morgan, community youth coordinator for Saint Francis Health System in Tulsa, excited Jech. “I am really interested in Kerry’s work. I want an internship I really enjoy, and this experience will help me better understand what kind of area I might like to work in,” she says. continues next page
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Jech helps Morgan prepare for assessments at the conclusion of the
six-week ShapeDown
program for children and teens ages 8-14.
progress since the beginning of the class. I was able to interact with the children and help with the assessments. This was my favorite part of the day because I really enjoyed seeing the program in action and working with the children. From 4:30 to 5 p.m., we covered a nutrition lesson. After class, Kerry entered the results from the fitness assessment into FitnessGram and an outcomes spreadsheet.
The Lesson
“This was my favorite part of the day because I really enjoyed seeing the program in action and working with the children.” Jech’s Journal
This six-week program is primarily for children and teens ages 8-14. I arrived at Health Zone in Tulsa Around 11 a.m., I began helping at 10 a.m. on July 12, 2010, to meet Kerry prepare for the assessments Kerry Morgan. Health Zone is a and for the kids to arrive later that part of Saint Francis Health System afternoon. During my visit, Kerry was where Kerry coordinates pediatric concluding a six-week session of Shapemanagement. Down and preparing the final fitness She gave me a tour of the facility and assessments for the participants. introduced me to the other employees. We also spent time planning a session She also spent time giving me an overof ShapeDown to begin later in the view of her job. month. Kerry takes care of all the small Kerry is responsible for developing, details. She’s responsible for promoting implementing and evaluating programs for youth that improve their knowledge ShapeDown or finding scholarship money for those who can’t afford it. about nutrition, encourage them to increase physical activity levels and get She makes phone calls to parents to confirm enrollment. them to a point where they can make We took a break for lunch and then good decisions on their own. continued to prepare for a future A large part of Kerry’s job is to session and the day’s program until the conduct ShapeDown, a pediatric kids’ arrival at 3:30 p.m. weight-management program that The first hour of the class is set aside features entertaining interactive for physical activity, and we conducted sessions on healthy eating, physical activity, cooking classes and self-esteem. the fitness assessments, charting their
Based on my experience, I feel it is important that someone in this position be a very patient and encouraging person. She has to be flexible, patient and personable simply because all of the kids she works with have different personalities and ways of learning. There were children who were eager to learn and to make a change, while others had problems staying on task and had negative attitudes about being there. A person in this position would need to be extremely optimistic. Overall, my day shadowing Kerry was a successful one, and I can definitely see myself working in a similar occupation to hers.
Morgan’s Views I have gained valuable practical
experience
in
my
current
role. I have been well prepared to succeed thanks in large part to my experiences at OSU. While pursuing my master’s degree, I was fortunate to work with knowledgeable and supportive faculty members. Having the opportunity to teach classes as a graduate assistant and then as a visiting lecturer led me to my true calling.
Jeremy Willis PHOTOGRAPHY PHIL SHOCKLEY
“Education is an area where I have the opportunity to make a difference.” Pamela Fry, former
dean of OSU’s College of Education, and her shadow, secondary education sophomore
Jeremy Willis. Willis
begins his day in Willard Hall with Dean Fry, who starts her day reviewing her packed schedule.
When Jeremy Willis began his college search, the native of a Dallas suburb, Flower Mound, Texas, knew he was interested in attending an outof-state school. After visiting Stillwater and securing a scholarship, he decided that OSU was the place for him. “I really liked the OSU community,” Willis says. “People are easy to get along with. It’s an ideal college town with everything surrounding OSU.” Willis’ decision to major in education came naturally. His grandparents were teachers and principals in the state of Texas. He also gained experience working with children and young adults at church. “Education is an area where I have the opportunity to make a difference,” he says. Willis, a 2009 high school graduate, enjoyed a successful first year at OSU. He received several scholarships from the Inclusion Center for Academic
Excellence (ICAE), including the Howard Shipp Jr. Scholarship, the Black Faculty and Staff Association Scholarship and the ICAE Freshman and Leadership Scholarships. He also worked part time at the Edmon Low Library, enjoyed playing basketball at the Colvin Center and attended OSU Football games. In June, following the end of spring semester, the secondary education and social studies sophomore enjoyed a rare opportunity to shadow OSU’s College of Education Dean Pamela Fry.
Willis’ Journal It feels great to be back in Stillwater since the end of the spring semester. I felt honored to follow Dean Fry for the COE magazine, but I was somewhat nervous as to what I would be doing throughout the day. I arrived at Willard Hall around 8 a.m. and went straight to the dean’s
office on the third floor. After meeting Dean Fry, the day began. The dean met with administrative assistant Brenda Brown to review the day’s schedule. She then spent time writing thank you notes to senators and representatives she met the previous week in Washington, D.C., and follow-up notes to the individuals recently inducted to the College of Education Hall of Fame. Just before 9 a.m., we headed downstairs to the Willard Hall Living Room where the dean greeted incoming freshmen during their enrollment orientation. She introduced herself and welcomed them to OSU and to the College of Education. She asked students to share their names, where they were from and which College of Education program they were majoring in. She was very encouraging and welcoming. continues next page
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The Lesson At 9:30 a.m., we went back upstairs for a meeting with Lisa Holder and Goldie Thompson from the office of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. College staff members Holly Blakey and Candace Thrasher, and Susan Stansberry, the associate director of professional education, also attended. The meeting was about hosting a conference in conjunction with the Celebration of Teaching, which the college holds annually. It features the Oklahoma and National Teachers of the Year. The college invites teachers from across the state, OSU teacher education candidates and high school students interested in the teaching profession to attend. During this meeting, Dean Fry asked for my input, and I was able to give a student’s perspective about what kinds of things would be most interesting and valuable to a student attending the event. Following the meeting, the dean visited via teleconference with a colleague at the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Debbie Rogers, about some research they are conducting. I learned that even though she serves as dean, Dr. Fry remains a member of the faculty and continues research and teaching. Next up, we walked over to the Rancher’s Club on campus for a lunch meeting with the senior director of development, Dr. Brenda Solomon, and Dr. Cecil Dugger, a former faculty member in the College of Education, and his wife, Geneva. Dr. and Mrs. Dugger are friends and supporters of the College of Education. This lunch is an opportunity for Dean Fry and Dr. Solomon to thank the Duggers for their support and visit with them about what is happening in the college.
Coming in, I anticipated that deans have a busy workday, and spending just a brief time with Dean Fry confirmed my thoughts — and that was a Friday during the summer. I can only imagine the amount of meetings and conference calls she would have during the regular school year. I instantly gained respect for the amount of work Dean Fry does throughout the day. She is the leader and one of the faces of the COE. She has to meet with alumni and really represent the COE well. One of the most surprising things to me was there never seemed to be a time for her to just relax or take a break. I believe Dean Fry is very dedicated to her job. In order to be dean at any institution, a person must be very friendly and approachable. I learned that a dean must be a leader and have good social skills to communicate with the various people. People turn to the dean for answers and guidance, and a dean must be levelheaded and able to provide answers. One day, I would definitely be interested in the position of a dean. Currently, I am a secondary education major, but I hope to be a principal or work for my local school board as a superintendent. Being a dean at a university would be the ultimate goal I could set for myself and would be a great achievement in my career. continues next page
Fry’s Views “I feel that my graduate degrees from OSU provided an exceedingly strong foundation to prepare me for my academic career. As I interacted with faculty from institutions all over the
United
States
and
beyond,
I came to fully understand and appreciate the quality of my OSU master’s and doctoral degrees.”
“One of the most surprising things to me was there never seemed to be a time for her to just relax or take a break.”
Last fall, Pamela Fry,
former dean of the
College of Education,
accepted the position of associate provost and associate vice president of undergraduate education at OSU.
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Kathryn Marquart COURTESY PHOTOS
Trenary. Mr. Trenary and I sat in his office and talked about OSU, our flying program, and of course, the Flying Aggies. Mr. Trenary, an OSU graduate, was an active member of Flight Team and the Flying Aggies. Around 9 a.m., Mr. Trenary had a question and answer session with a member of the communications staff for the Pinnacle’s quarterly magazine. Currently, Pinnacle is purchasing Mesaba Airlines, so most of the questions were about the merger. After the interview for his magazine, Mr. Trenary took me on a tour of Pinnacle. He showed me the Colgan Airlines and Pinnacle Airlines dispatch and the crew scheduling centers, which handle flight plans and the weights and balances of the aircraft. Around 11:30, Mr. Trenary, Alex and I went to lunch. On the way, they took me on a scenic tour of the river and pointed out some of their favorite spots. I noticed that nearly everything on the menu had oysters in it. Mr. Trenary told me the reason why Memphis has such fresh seafood, despite being a land-locked state, is because FedEx’s headquarters are there. Restaurants can always have fresh seafood shipped in. After lunch, I sat in on a financial meeting with Mr. Trenary, the chief Marquart’s Journal When my alarm went off at 3:30 a.m. financial officer, and the managing director of the flight. They ran numbers on Aug. 6, 2010, I knew it was going to be a long but exciting day. I traveled by each other and made sure everyone was on the same page financially. to Memphis, Tenn., to shadow the Around 2 p.m., Alex and I went to president and CEO of Pinnacle Airlines, the simulator building just a few miles Phil Trenary. I flew from Dallas to down the road from headquarters. This Memphis on a Delta Connection was probably the highlight of my day CRJ-200 operated by Pinnacle. because I flew a CRJ-200 simulator. I After landing in Memphis at 7:40 even taught Alex how to land and what a.m., I met Alex Cox, a communicaflight directors are. tions specialist at Pinnacle, who drove Around 4:30 p.m., we went back me to the office building. to headquarters where we wrapped I arrived at the Pinnacle Headup the office part of the day. After we quarters around 8 a.m. and met Phil
Kathryn Marquart is a senior majoring in professional pilot with a minor in aviation management. She graduated from Edward S. Marcus High School in Lewisville, Texas, in 2007 and began flying airplanes in April of the same year. She passed her private pilot check ride in August before starting school at OSU. At OSU, Marquart has continued flying and recently became a certified flight instructor. The honor roll student is involved with the Flying Aggies, the American Association of Airport Executives and Women in Aviation and is active in Gamma Phi Beta sorority. During the summer, she landed an internship working in flight operations with American Airlines at the DallasFort Worth Airport. “During the past three years at OSU, I have made countless friends and memories,” she says. “OSU is more than I could have asked for in a university. The sense of home is one of the reasons I love it so much.” Marquart, who will graduate in May 2011, plans to continue building flight hours and to begin working for a regional airline. Her career goal is to work for a major airline.
said our goodbyes to all office personnel, Mr. Trenary showed me around Memphis. I saw Beale Street and even tried my first oyster. He also showed me where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. After a quick tour and dinner, Mr. Trenary dropped me off at the Memphis airport. The visit was truly an experience of a lifetime!
The Lesson One of the main things that I learned during my trip to Memphis and about Pinnacle Airlines is how it all began. Mr. Trenary told me he actually started Pinnacle at Oklahoma State right after he finished his bachelor’s degree. After spending some time visiting with Mr. Trenary, it’s clear that qualities like honesty, patience and teamwork are important in his position. E
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PHOTOGRAPHER GEORGE BULARD
Keeping a Strong Educational Foundation
“Some of the most important people in our lives are educators.” – Cathy Jameson The Jamesons have decided When Cathy and John to do even more to help educaJameson established the tion students. The couple has Jameson Family Endowed committed a $250,000 life Scholarship in the College of insurance planned gift to support Education in 2005, the couple viewed it as a way to recognize the the Jameson Family Endowed Scholarship. In addition, they are education they received at Oklaestablishing a new scholarship with homa State University. a $50,000 gift. The scholarship “I am so grateful to the College of Education for being the founda- will honor John’s mother, Dorothy Strong Jameson, and Cathy’s father, tion of my career,” Cathy says. Derry B. Ebert. The elementary education The new scholarship gift is alumna taught for several years eligible for a Pickens Legacy Scholbefore she shifted to consulting. arship Match. Through a generous Her teaching experience and back$100 million commitment from ground in education, combined T. Boone Pickens, the $50,000 gift with her knowledge of healthcare will be matched 2:1, bringing the from helping John establish his amount applied to the endowment dental practice, led her to start to $150,000. Jameson Management Inc., a “Our intention from the begincompany that offers business and ning was to increase the size of communication consultation for the scholarship when and where healthcare professionals. that was appropriate,” John says. Jameson Management has “There is no question the Pickens provided comprehensive practice Legacy Scholarship Match was management throughout the a key element in our decision to United States and 26 countries increase our giving. Knowing that worldwide. Cathy has remained our funds could go further and committed to teaching every step possibly help more students made of the way. us want to make that happen “I believe one of the reasons my immediately.” company has been so successful is John and Cathy, who currently my background in education,”she says. “Some of the most important serves on the OSU Foundation board of trustees, are proud of the people in our lives are educators, quality of education they received including John’s mother, another at OSU and hope their scholarOSU graduate. We wanted to ship gifts will support and inspire provide opportunities for students who had a desire to pursue a career College of Education students. in education.”
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HELPING STUDENTS WITH A SCHOLARSHIP GIFT? For many students a scholarship gift can m e a n t h e difference between r e c e i v i n g and not receiving a c o l l e g e education. Here are some poss i b l e w a y s to help students rea c h t h e i r educational goals:
Outright Gifts Pledge of up to 5 years Deferred/Estate Gift + Jumpstart Gift For more information, please contact Brenda Solomon of the OSU Foundation:
(405) 385-5156 phone
bsolomon@osugiving.com email
www.osugiving.com website
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Pickens Legacy Scholarship Matches (AS OF DECEMBER, 2010)
The gifts from College of Education
supporters are an investment in a strong
educational future for children, such as
Lauren Jameson, granddaughter of OSU alumni John and Cathy Jameson. PHOTOGRAPHY PHIL SHOCKLEY
L. Mignon Albers and Bill and Nita Ebert
Gift to establish a scholarship for teacher education students
Bill and Billie Buckles
Gift to establish a scholarship for teacher education students
Jerry and Mary Burson
Gift to support the Jerry and Mary Burson Endowed Scholarship for students in aviation and secondary English education
Bryan Close
Gift to support the Bryan Close Scholarship for transfer students from Tulsa
Friends of Marcia Dickman
Gift to establish a new scholarship for students in the College Student Development program
Dan and Sue Dorsey
Gift to establish the Bill J. Dorsey Endowed Scholarship for aviation students
Kerry Havner
Gift to establish a scholarship for career and technical education students
Jill and Jeff Hough
Gift in honor of Jill’s father Dr. Tom Smith to support the Thomas J. Smith Endowed Scholarship for graduate students in school administration
John and Lauree James
Gift in memory of sons Johney and Kevin James to establish an aviation scholarship
John and Cathy Jameson Gift to establish a scholarship for education students in honor of John’s mother, Dorothy Strong Jameson, and Cathy’s father, Derry B. Ebert
Jan and Kirk Jewell
Gift to support the Jan Jewell Endowed Scholarship for students in special education or counseling
Lola Lehman
Gift to support the Daniel C. and Mary L. Herd Memorial Scholarship for elementary education students
John and Caroline Linehan
Gift to support the John C. and Caroline S. Endowed Scholarship for future teachers
Steve and Jan Marks
Gift to support a scholarship for aviation and speech pathology students
Bob Noble
Gift in memory of Judy Noble to establish a scholarship for teacher education students
Bill and Lynn Peacher Gift to establish a new scholarship for career and technical education students
Terry and Skye Shaw
Gift to establish the Thelia Sewell Shaw Memorial Scholarship for graduate students in counseling psychology
Becky and Steve Smith Gift to support a scholarship for future mathematics education teachers
Kathlyn Smith/Doug and Davis Wilson COE Alumni Scholarship
Gift to establish a new scholarship for College of Education students
Scott and Suzanne Spradling
Gift to establish a scholarship for future science educators
Toni and Bill Stone
Gift to support the Toni and Bill Stone Endowed Scholarship for teacher education students
Friends of Francis Tuttle
Gift to establish a new fellowship for students pursuing a graduate degree in Occupational Education
Robert and Kimberly Walker
Gift to establish a scholarship in honor of Anne Marsh for College of Education students from the state of Texas Gift to establish a scholarship in honor of Don and Jackie Walker for College of Education students
Bruce Waterfield, Robert Raab and Gail and Jim Waterfield
Gifts to establish a scholarship in memory of Tracey Waterfield Neilson for students from any program area in the College Education
Bruce Waterfield and Robert Raab
Gift to establish a new scholarship for athletic training students
Randall and Carol White Gift to establish a new scholarship for students in the reading and literacy area
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OSU Honors Great Leaders
“Their loyalty to OSU and passion for education will impact our college and its students for generations to come.” – Pamela Fry, former dean of the College of Education OSU alumni and longtime supporters Frank and Carol Morsani of Tampa, Fla., received honorary doctorates during OSU’s commencement ceremony in May 2010. “These two individuals have brought tremendous honor and distinction to their alma mater through their success in business and their lifelong commitment to leadership, philanthropy and service to society,” says OSU President Burns Hargis. “It is impressive and humbling to know that although they now live in Florida, their hearts remain with OSU.” These are only the 17th and 18th honorary doctorates awarded at OSU, placing the couple in elite company that includes two U.S. presidents, governors and other highly influential individuals. The mathematics, science and occupational education faculty in the OSU College of Education supported the degree presentation.
Rising to Success Both are from humble beginnings. Frank grew up in Ramona, Okla., and the former Carol Walsh in Tulsa. They married while students at Oklahoma A&M where they struggled to pay their way through college. Frank received his bachelor’s degree in trade and industrial education in 1957, and Carol studied interior design in the College of Human Environmental Sciences. After leaving OSU, the Morsanis built Precision Enterprises Tampa Inc., a trusted automobile empire consisting of 30 dealerships around the country. As a team in marriage and business, they worked their way to great success and positions of national and international leadership. Frank’s commitment to ethical leadership and community involvement has led to many leadership and philanthropic opportunities, including his service as chair of the board of directors for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The couple has chosen to invest their wealth and influence to improve society. The passionate philanthropists established “learning, earning and giving” as three rules to life and have demonstrated their philosophy through actions and words. They have given more than $36 million in various areas, including higher education, the performing arts, medical research and leadership.
Loyal and True The Morsanis have never forgotten their alma mater or the foundation they received at OSU. They frequently return to Stillwater to interact with students and faculty and share inspiring words and wisdom from their vast experiences.
They also have established several scholarships for students and an endowed faculty position in the College of Education. In 2007, the Morsanis announced a $5 million planned gift to the College of Education that will establish the Frank and Carol Morsani Center for Ethics and Creative Leadership on the Stillwater campus. Frank served as OSU’s commencement speaker in 1986, and the College of Education inducted him into its hall of fame in 2000. The couple also received the 2005 Henry G. Bennett Award, OSU’s highest humanitarian award. “Without question, Frank and Carol Morsani embody those qualities and accomplishments that deserve the highest recognition and exemplify the fulfillment of the land grant ideal,” says Pamela Fry, dean of the College of Education. “Their loyalty to OSU and passion for education will impact our college and its students for generations to come.”
‘Twice Blessed’ Receiving the honorary doctorates means a great deal to the couple. “When I was honored to be the commencement speaker, I thought the recognition was the highlight of my professional career, as well as my life,” Frank says. “To be twice honored with the addition of the Bennett Award and the honorary degree is beyond words. We are both most grateful.” Carol agrees. “It is very rewarding to be recognized by one’s university,” she says. “To be twice honored is to be twice blessed.”
OSU HONORARY DOCTORATE RECIPIENTS
William L. Burlison and William A. Tarr, 1927 Carl Williams and Patrick J. Hurley, 1930 George Bush, 1990 Wilma Mankiller, 1992 Henry Bellmon, 1995 John Montgomery, 1996 Willard R. Sparks, 1998 M.B. “Bud” Seretean, 1999 Hannah Diggs Atkins, 2000 T. Boone Pickens, 2002 Tommy Franks, 2004 Arthur C. Lucas, 2004 George W. Bush, 2006 Frank J. Williams, 2007 Frank and Carol Morsani, 2010
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“Being infused in another culture puts you out of your comfort zone, but getting to help someone and the growth you get from it is a great experience.”
The Fulbright Experience PHOTOGRAPHY GARY LAWSON
Allan Allday’s passion for people, for other cultures and for sharing his field of expertise is evident when he talks about his experiences as a Fulbright Scholar. As a participant in the prestigious Fulbright program, the assistant professor in special education and his wife, Carrie, a doctoral student in the College of Education, spent what he describes as “the best six months” in the Ukraine in 2008. This summer, Allday returned for a 15-day follow up. Since the late 1940s, the Fulbright program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Educational and Cultural Affairs, has served as an integral part of U.S. foreign relations. Today, the Fulbright program — with its goal “to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries” — is the most widely recognized and prestigious international exchange program in the world, operating in over 155 countries. The program selects participants, like Allday, for their academic merit and leadership potential and awards them an opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute solutions to shared international concerns. Allday spoke at conferences, served as an ambassador and consulted and taught throughout Ukraine.
Beginning the Journey “The U.S. Embassy had many programs to teach about America. Thankfully, while we were there, they had a big push toward disability awareness. “I was the first American a lot of people had ever met. That’s powerful. They all have this idea of what an American is supposed to be, and I hope I left them with a good impression. “We did a conference in Yalta, where post-World War II was decided at the Yalta Conference. It was absolutely a gorgeous place. The conference, at the Crimean University of Humanities, was about educating people with disabilities. “They were proud that people with disabilities attended the university. These were people with physical disabilities, but they had a completely separate faculty even though they had the same mental capacity as people without disabilities. They really bragged on the fact that they had people with disabilities there.”
Culture Immersion “I did some lectures and other work at a university in a city called Zhitomyr (Zha-toe-meer). My primary translator, Irina, was from Zhitomyr, so we stayed with her family. Her dad was a colonel in the Soviet Army. He said, ‘Seventeen years ago we were enemies, and now here you are in my house.’ “We were the first Americans in their house. We actually did Orthodox Easter with them, which is where the Easter egg came from. You get up at 3 a.m. and you have something called paska. It looks like a cupcake, but it’s a kind of bread. You dye eggs in real dye. “You take your basket of eggs and stand out in the street, close to the Orthodox Church. There were nearly 10,000 people lining the streets. The priest comes down with holy water and sprinkles. The more water you get on your basket the better since it signifies that you’re going to have a blessed year. It was a fantastic experience. “We went out to their dacha, or summer home, where they have no electricity. We got to really experience the culture. Those things made this a wonderful trip.” continues next page
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Kiev
Allan Allday holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in education and a doctorate in special education with an emphasis in behavior disorders and autism and a minor in school psychology, all from Auburn University. He joined OSU after teaching middle school children with emotional and behavioral disorders, working as a behavioral consultant and serving three years on the faculty at the College of Charleston.
COURTESY PHOTOS
“We walked everywhere in Kiev, a city of about 4 million people. We didn’t have a car. We didn’t have money to take taxis, so we took subways, buses and trains. One day we walked more than 20 miles. I bought a new pair of tennis shoes before we left to go to Ukraine. Six months later I had worn the sole completely out and had to throw them away. “School 168 was doing what they called an ‘experiment’ by including children with disabilities in the school. Included meant that they were just in the same building. These were children with physical disabilities. “There was one child who had very spastic cerebral palsy, but he could walk. He actually spoke English better than the school’s English teacher spoke it, but he was not included in the regular class because he couldn’t write. “I asked the teachers questions like, ‘How else could he show you he knows the answer?’ They didn’t know. “I asked, ‘Could he tell you the answer, and would you know if he knows it or not?’ They said, ‘Sure.’
“I said, ‘Don’t you think he should be included?’ They said, ‘No, because he can’t write.’ “That’s the perspective there. To a degree, it’s still the same in the U.S., though not as severe as it is there. They look at disability as opposed to ability, and they didn’t see how bright some of these kids were, yet that school was making progress.”
“We did training on how to understand behavior, how to measure behavior and how to do behavioral interventions. All of this was completely new to them. “I also trained them to teach and set up programs for children with autism. I worked to teach them how to do applied behavior analysis, or ABA therapy. My hope was to be able to give them some skill set. “There is a law for physical L’Viv therapists and psychologists “We spent about four weeks, almost one-sixth of our time, in a in Ukraine that says if they are working with people with city called L’Viv. I was at a place disabilities, they can only work called Dzherelo (Jhair-a-low). I worked at Dzherelo, and my wife, four hours day because of the potential mental anguish it Carrie, did some work at Faith in Light – L’Arche workshops for brings to the therapist. That’s the mentality. adults with disabilities. “These psychologists are only “I connected at Dzherelo, and so I traveled there for my follow- scheduled and paid to work 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The days I was up trip. there, we worked from 9 a.m. “On this recent trip, I did to 5 p.m. They all wanted to a two-week training of their psychologists as opposed to train- learn so much that they stayed the extra four hours every single ing teachers. I tried to train deep day — not because I’m great instead of wide, as thoroughly and know everything, but simply as I could in two weeks. Rather because they are hungry to figure than training many people on a little bit of information, I tried to out what to do with these kids. “To me, that spoke volumes. train a few on a lot of informaThey want to do well, to make a tion. The hope was that this difference. They stayed because would infiltrate their staff. they knew it would benefit them in some way. We continue the work today through weekly emails and a monthly Skype call. “I love those people and would do anything in the world for them. It was very frustrating at times because they always see how you can’t do it, and I’m one of those people that will tell you how we can do it.”
“I encourage every class member to apply for a student Fulbright, to go somewhere he or she can make a difference.” Lasting Effects “It changed my perspective on life. When you see people living on so much less, you ask yourself, ‘What do you really need and what do you not need?’ You find out you don’t really need much. “I’ve tried every way possible to incorporate in my teaching something like photos or videos from my experiences. I want my students to see something outside their frames of reference. I try to be more thoughtful. When you teach through a translator, you really have to think about what you saw and about the examples you use. I think more carefully about what I say. “I haven’t traveled as extensively as many people, but the experiences I have are on a very personal level. On the personal level, people are the same. I try to present this in class — the principles I teach work in any culture. People are people.
“I try to encourage students to think outside the box. As teachers, they have such knowledge to share with people. I encourage every class member to apply for a student Fulbright, to go somewhere where he or she can make a difference. We have so many advantages and opportunities — we need to try to take those and help somebody else.
“I tell them, ‘I know it’s hard to do. Being infused in another culture puts you out of your comfort zone, but getting to help someone and the growth you get from it is a great experience.’ “That’s what I try to leave them with.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FULBRIGHT PROGRAM, VISIT WWW.IIE.ORG/FULBRIGHT .
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BEcoming SOCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY PHIL SHOCKLEY
Technology is connecting the world like never before, and social media are providing a vehicle for constant contact. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube —
all provide unprecedented opportunities for prospective and current students, alumni and friends to connect with OSU and the College of Education.
“Our concept from the start was to Recent videos have included introbuild a community on the Facebook site,” ductions of staff in the Watson Family says Mitch Harrison, web designer for Student Academic Services Center and the College of Education. students sharing what they like best about “That’s where the page differs from our their COE majors. A photo tour of OSU’s primary website.” athletic training facilities, information Both Facebook and Twitter connect about student honors and awards and the people with others who have common occasional inspirational quote also appear interests, such as the OSU College of on the college’s Facebook page. Education. The Facebook page is proving useful Facebook uses a “Wall” as an informa- in recruiting. Prospective students tion feed about events, honors and news are encouraged to visit the page, as it from the college. The page also includes provides a glimpse of what’s happening in photos and video, but it’s more than just the college and what it’s like to be a COE a source of information. student. “Truly, the page is a resource for The interactive model provides a place all of our constituents,” Harrison says. for users to give feedback. Users will “We have seen significant growth recently often find questions on the page that and want to continue to build that. We spark conversation such as “Help our hope that our current users will invite incoming freshmen: Where is the best others to join the community.” study spot on campus?” or “What are In addition, the college is using Twitter you doing this summer that relates to as a connection tool. Succinct messages, your major?” 140 characters or less in length, keep Current students can connect with users up-to-date. Another effective advisers and peers and find out how to feature is the ability to provide a URL get involved in events and activities in and a single click to get more details the college. The page provides a way for and information. All COE news items, alumni to know what is happening in the announcements and event reminders are college, keeping their connection fresh. on Twitter.
How to Connect If you’re new to the world of social media, here is some information about connecting with the OSU College of Education. To find the COE on Facebook simply go to
www.facebook.com , sign in and type “Oklahoma State University College of Education ” in the search box. You can
choose to “like ” us, and
receive news, videos and information from the college in your news feed. The COE user name is
OSUCollegeofEd . To sign up for an account on Twitter,
visit www.twitter.com
and search for
“OSUCollegeofEd .”
OSU has a significant
presence in the social media
as well. Search the following terms to connect with various OSU entities:
Facebook Oklahoma State University Oklahoma State Athletics OSU-Tulsa HireOSUGrads.com CAREER SERVICES
OSU Foundation
Twitter OKStateAlumni HireOSUgrads Okstatenews OSUAthletics OSUFoundation
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No Boundaries for OLLI PHOTOGRAPHY PHIL SHOCKLEY
Mary Frye
is a retired College of Education
professor and chair of the Stillwater OLLI executive committee.
The OSU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, OLLI @ OSU, recently received a $1 million dollar endowment from the Bernard Osher Foundation, establishing the program permanently in the College of Education at OSU. RuthAnn McCarthy Sirbaugh, director of OLLI @ OSU, says the road to endowment has been challenging but extremely rewarding. “We built the program from very meager beginnings but now hold classes in three cities. We concluded the year with 94 class offerings, five day-trips and one three-day travel trip. None of this would have been possible without our volunteers who serve as teachers, committee members and OLLI leaders. I consider myself a lucky person to work with such a committed group. Their dedication reflects the respect they hold for lifelong learning.” Why would anyone pursue education during retirement — especially when they don’t need to chase career prospects? “Because learning is forever,” says Mary Frye, retired College of Education professor and chair of the Stillwater OLLI executive committee. “OLLI offers a broad range of courses, workshops and travel on every subject imaginable to people 50 and older.
“Our bodies may become limited physically, but our minds continue to expand with use.” “Our bodies may become limited physically, but our minds continue to expand with use,” Frye says. “Opportunities to explore areas to which we haven’t been exposed or had time to delve into are invaluable. And sharing interests, knowledge and enthusiasm for expanding horizons is exciting and just plain fun!” Frye enrolled in “Great Decisions,” a foreign policy course, and liked it so much that she is now one of the course facilitators. “Learning more about other cultures and making an attempt to understand their challenges and strengths is vital in this day and age,” she says. “We need world cooperation in so many venues.” OLLI @ OSU, nationally recognized for its innovative programming, has brought together more than 600 people for classes in Stillwater, Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Kali Lightfoot, executive director of the National Resource Center for Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, traveled to Stillwater to deliver the keynote address at the annual OLLI banquet and to meet key leaders in OLLI @ OSU.
“The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at OSU is a wonderful example of all that is good about OLLI programs,” she says, noting “the collaborative staff leadership, energized and committed volunteers, terrific learning opportunities and lots of laughter.” Instructors for OLLI courses are volunteers who are professionals or experts in their fields. They participate for the sheer joy of learning and sharing knowledge. “I find it amazing that not only retirees but fully employed people are eager and willing to teach classes,” Frye says. “The instructors are always gratified at the interest and attentiveness of the students.” E
FOR MORE INFORMATIO N ABOUT OLLI @ OSU, CALL (800) 765-8933 O R V I S I T EDUCATION.OKSTATE.ED U / O L L I
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Among the Best COURTESY PHOTO
OSU’s Occupational Education program, housed in the College of Education’s School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership, ranks among the nation’s
best for its academic quality and outstanding research.
The program has enjoyed a lengthy stay in the top 10 of U.S. News and World
Report’s ranking of Best Educational
School Specialty Rankings in the Technical/
Vocational category. During the spring of
2010, the program achieved a benchmark, rising to sixth place.
PHOTOGRAPH GARY LAWSON
William Oller, Gateway to Technology instructor at Carver Middle School, presents to his peers during a pre-engineering workshop held on the OSU campus.
“The national ranking and other awards and honors are a reflection of the quality of the occupational education program and the teaching and research efforts of our faculty and students,” says C. Robert Davis, interim dean of the College of Education. “The program has been strong historically and continues to gain recognition. Our graduates are influencing the state of Oklahoma and its workforce. It’s truly an example of OSU fulfilling its land-grant mission.” The program offers coursework appropriate for a wide range of students, including educators from the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, CareerTech, technical educators, personnel in higher education, career and occupational counselors, adult trainers in business and industry and workforce development professionals from all fields. Faculty, students and alumni from the OCED program have been lauded for their research and teaching efforts. Here are many of the past year’s highlights:
W I L L I AMS
PHOTOGRAPH GARY LAWSON
SONG
Associate Professor Lynna first-year career technology education teachers hired Ausburn is the recipient of the Regents Research Award, directly from business and industry. and Mary Jo Self received Associate Professor OSU’s Regents Teaching Belinda McCharen is the Award in 2010. board chair for the National The OCED virtual reality Occupational Competency (VR) research program, led Institute, a testing organizaby Lynna Ausburn and tion that serves career and adjunct instructor Floyd Ausburn, has been accepted technical education as well as business and industry. for membership in the GigaAssistant Professor Ji Pan Education and Research Hoon Song received an Program. The selection international award from admits the program to an the Emerald/EFMD 2009 international consortium using an exciting new virtual Outstanding Doctoral Research Awards — Highly reality technology named GigaPan and puts OSU’s VR Commended Research Award in the field of Leadership research in an outstanding and Organization Developresearch community that ment. He also won the 2009 includes such distinguished Outstanding Dissertation entities as Carnegie Mellon Award from the University University, NASA/Ames Council for Workforce and Research Center, University Human Resource Education, of Washington VR center, and the Human Resource the BBC and National Development Review invited Geographic. him to serve as a member Lynna Ausburn is the of its review team for incoming president of the theory and concept building University Council for Workresearch on the topics of force and Human Resource learning organization models Education, a national body and organizational learning composed of program leaders from 19 universities with theories. The Association of Career doctoral degree programs and Technical Education, that combine career and a large and influential technical education and organization for career and human resource or worktechnical education, named force development. occupational education Associate Professor Mary graduate Mark American Jo Self is the past-president of the National Association of Horse Teacher of the Year. American Horse is a 2005 Industrial Technical Teacher graduate of the master’s Educators. Self also directs program with plans to a highly successful program pursue a Ph.D. that increases retention of
Doctoral student Gary Dotterer has received one of only three Doctoral Research Dissemination Awards from the National University Council for Workforce and Human Resource Education. Dotterer also won the Graduate Student Research Award from the National Association of Industrial and Technical Teacher Educators. The University Council for Workforce and Human Resource Education awarded recent doctoral graduate Scott Williams the 2010 Outstanding Dissertation Award. E
Doctoral student
Gary Dotterer,
shown at left with Francis Tuttle Chair in Occupational
Education Belinda McCharen, received national research
awards from both
the University Council for Workforce and Human Resource Education and the National Association of Industrial and Technical Teacher Educators.
Occupational education doctoral students and members of the virtual reality research team, from left, Jean
Thompson, Holly McVay and Vallery Feltman, prepare to photograph a virtual
reality panorama at a
crime scene location.
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GREAT
TEACHERS
E THE WORLD YOUR GIFT CAN BRING THIS CHANGE.
PHOTOGRAPHY PHIL SHOCKLEY
For information about how you can help support the College of Education, contact Brenda Solomon, Ed.D., Senior Director of Development, College of Education. (405) 385-5156 bsolomon@osugiving.com
College News
The U.S. Distance Learning Association awarded the NASA Digital Learning Network a “Best Practices for Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching” in the online technology – government category. The OSU College of Education’s NASA Education Projects office manages the NASA Digital Learning Network, which is part of the NASA INSPIRE grant. The college’s aviation and aerospace administration program hosted the Oklahoma Aerospace Education Symposium in April with keynote speaker Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Jari Askins highlighting the agenda. Dave Conway, director of the Aviation Sciences Institute at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, also addressed participants, who represented a number of aviation programs from universities across the region. The symposium facilitates the free exchange of ideas in aerospace education. The college inducted alumni Karen Anderson, Wally Funk and Lloyd Lewan into its Hall of Fame in June. Induction into the Hall of Fame, the college’s highest honor, recognizes outstanding professional and personal achievement that has brought honor and distinction to the college.
College of Education Hall of Fame alumni inductees, left to right, KAREN ANDERSON, LLOYD LEWAN and WALLY FUNK received the college’s highest honor.
Todd Snethen, an academic counselor in the Watson Family Student Academic Success Center, received the 2010 Frank and Carol Morsani Outstanding Staff Award. The 1995 OSU graduate has worked in the College of Education since 2005 and has spent 13 years at the university.
SNETHEN
FOUBERT
John Foubert, the Anderson, Farris & Halligan Endowed Professor in college student development and one of the nation’s leading experts on sexual assault prevention, is working with the U.S. Air Force to implement his rape prevention program across eight bases in Europe. In addition to his new work with the Air Force, Foubert has shared his expertise with three other branches of the military, including the Army and the Naval and Coast Guard Academies.
In an effort to honor the significant and meritorious achievement of faculty members, the College of Education presented three new awards for the first time in 2009–2010. The awards recognize faculty in the areas of leadership and service, teaching and research. Jesse Perez Mendez received the Leadership and Service Excellence Award. Mendez is an assistant professor in higher education. Bridget Miller, associate professor in health and human performance, received the Teaching Excellence Award, and Gary Duhon, associate professor in school psychology, received the college’s Research Excellence Award.
MENDEZ
MILLER
DUHON
college news continues
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Toni Ivey, School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership assistant professor, has received a $113,618 grant from the National Science Foundation for her G.E.T. (Geoscience Experiences for Teachers) in the Field proposal. This research study brings together SMITH ANDREA ZAINAB NAEL science education and geology faculty at OSU to provide Oklahoma high Terrance Smith, a student in the Andrea Zainab Nael, a graduate school science teachers with authentic college’s student development program, student in the counseling psychology geoscience experiences. Ivey’s co-prinprogram, received a $20,976 American received the Region IV-West Graduate cipal investigators are Jim Puckette Student Rising Star Award from NASPA Psychological Association Minority (Department of Geology) and Julie – Student Affairs Administrators in Fellowship. The goal of the fellowship Thomas, professor in the School of Higher Education. Region IV-West program is to increase the knowledge Teaching and Curriculum Leadership. covers 12 states or provinces in the and research related to minority Scott Anderson, Digital Learning United States and Canada. mental health and to improve the Network coordinator for Marshall OSU has named Rebecca Crain, a quality of mental health and substance Space Flight Center and a part of counseling psychology graduate student, abuse services for ethnic minority OSU’s NASA Education Projects team, as a Creativity, Innovation and Entrepopulations. received NASA’s Silver Snoopy Award preneurship (CIE) Scholar. Selected for Pasha Antonenko’s proposal, in recognition of his leadership. The academic performance, leadership expe“Engaging Native Americans in DLN facilitates and provides technical riences and community engagement, CIE NASA-centered Cyberlearning and support for in-flight education, includScholars receive a $5,000 scholarship Career Awareness Activities,” received ing downlinks with the International and participate in a number of develop$399,903 in funding from NASA. Space Station. ment activities throughout the year. Antonenko is an assistant professor in Don Wickstrom, below left, presiAmy Coble, a special education gradthe School of Educational Studies. dent and CEO of Vibratrim, donated uate student, and Jacqueline Turner, three full-body vibration machines for a recent secondary English education research conducted by Bert Jacobson, graduate, received DaVinci/Martin Scholbelow right, head of the School of arships from the DaVinci Institute in Educational Studies. Researchers think 2010. The DaVinci Institute is a unique vibration stimulates neuromuscular partnership of higher education leaders conductivity; increases flexibility, bone in Oklahoma that aims to encourage density and circulation; enhances critical thinking and creativity. glycemic control and stimulates Lance Millis, assistant director of ANTONENKO C A N E D AY balance receptors. Jacobson’s research the Watson Family Student Academic project deals with balance and stability Services Center, appears in local and The Academy of Leisure Sciences in elderly subjects by using full-body national publication features for his has elected Lowell Caneday, Regents vibration systems in conjunction with Professor in the School of Applied Health expertise on college preparation and selected activities. and Educational Psychology. Election to other related topics. He also writes a weekly column printed in newspapers the Academy of Leisure Sciences is the and online. The author of College Prep most prestigious recognition for schol101 and How to Go to College Cheaper ars in the leisure studies field. also has a pair of websites that offer advice and resources to parents and students – www.collegeprep101.com and www.collegeanswerguy.com. E
New Endowed Professorships … Thanks to Friends
CASTLE
The college has selected Kathryn Castle, professor and graduate coordinator in the School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership, as the first person to hold the Chuck and Kim Watson Chair in Education. Castle’s area is curriculum studies. OSU alumni Chuck and Kim Watson, who is an elementary education graduate, provided the gift to establish the endowed position. Also named in honor of the Watsons is the college’s Watson Family Student Academic Success Center. Castle, who received the OSU Regents Distinguished Teaching Award in 2005 and the OSU Regents Distinguished Research Award in 2008, serves on two national boards and three national editorial boards. She is co-founder of the Oklahoma Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators and a past president of the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators.
GOETZE
She earned a master’s degree in educational psychology and developmental psychology from Emory University and a doctor of education degree in curriculum and instruction and early childhood education from the University of Virginia. The college named Sandra Goetze, associate professor in the School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership, the first Alice Phillips Endowed Professor in Elementary Education. The endowed professorship honors Alice Phillips, the mother of Ann Phillips and Lena Schenk, the OSU alumni who provided the gift establishing the professorship. Goetze teaches literacy and elementary education and serves as director of the Randall and Carol White Reading and Mathematics Centers. These centers provide low-cost, high-quality tutoring and support the training of pre-service and in-service teachers on OSU’s Stillwater and Tulsa campuses.
JACOBS
In 2009, UCLA’s Visiting Scholar Program selected Goetze as a participant. She holds a Ph.D. in literacy education from the University of Oklahoma. Sue Jacobs, associate professor in the School of Applied Health and Educational Psychology, is the first Ledbetter and Lemon Endowed Diversity Professor in Counseling Psychology. Gifts from OSU alumni Myron C. Ledbetter and Bob Lemon established the professorship. Jacobs’ areas are counseling and counseling psychology. She coordinates OSU’s Preparing Future Faculty program, sponsored by the American Psychological Association, and serves as co-director of the Oklahoma Network for the Teaching of Psychology. A licensed psychologist, Jacobs earned her Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi. E
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Goetze’s Enriching Adventure PHOTOGRAPHY PHIL SHOCKLEY
Sandee Goetze, the Alice Phillips Endowed Professor in Elementary Education, was committed to doing a language sabbatical. Los Angeles seemed like the perfect place. Goetze (pronounced get-ZEE) applied to UCLA’s Visiting Scholar program and was one of two individuals selected in the fall of 2008. “I wanted to be in the heart of where many languages are spoken, where it’s a way of life,” Goetze says. Goetze, who teaches in the areas of literacy and elementary education, began a six-month stay in Los Angeles in July 2009. While there, she determined to embrace the community and to experience things, both professionally and personally, that she could not at home.
During a language sabbatical, Goetze divided her time
between Para Los
Ninos, a dual-literacy
charter school located in downtown Los
Angeles and serving pre-kindergarten through sixth-grade students, pictured,
and the University of California, Los Angeles.
continues next page
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Each week, Goezte divided her time between UCLA and Para Los Ninos, a charter elementary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District. She spent two days a week at UCLA, where she took two classes and worked with faculty member Allison Bailey, preservice teachers and doctoral students. Goetze’s coursework included a class about English Language Learning (ELL) methods and theories. With so many universities in proximity, she also communicated with several experts in the field of ELL. She says the opportunity to sit down at a conference table and dialogue with them was a very rich part of her professional development. She spent two or three days a week at Para Los Ninos, a dual-literacy school located in downtown Los Angeles that serves pre-kindergarten through sixth-grade students. She lived in Santa Monica and commuted downtown to school. In an effort to avoid traffic, she left very early in the morning, arriving at the school no later than 6:45 a.m. That commute represented a stark contrast of two different worlds, one of privilege and one of poverty.
“In my mind, that is the mission of the school — to get these children in such a poor environment to the lifestyle I live through education,” she says. Speaking only Spanish, students come to the school where bilingual teachers help them to learn English. “The school is so well-thought out,” Goetze says. Children go on field trips and work on collaborative art projects. In addition to educational goals, there is a strong emphasis on volunteering and teaching the children to appreciate their beautiful school. Goetze forged relationships with many of the teachers and became a part of the school community. As part of her work at Para Los Ninos, Goetze conducted research to examine ELL best practices. She spent many hours observing in different classrooms and videotaping with a goal of gaining a better understanding of ELL practices in the classroom. She was also interested in language assessments and the clues they give about English literacy learning.
“In my mind, that is the mission of the school — to get these children in such a poor environment to the lifestyle I live through education.”
Goetze was able to provide professional development opportunities for teachers at the school. She shared her expertise in Response to Intervention (RTI), a model for helping children who are struggling in school. She helped the school develop and implement an electronic system for RTI. Away from work, she attended Mass at Saint Monica Catholic Community, two blocks from where she lived, and often saw California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver. Goetze played in a United States Tennis Association league in the evenings, joined a knitting club and attended The Ellen Show. Perhaps she was most proud of learning to drive all over Los Angeles. Goetze has been able to bring her experience back to OSU. She draws from her sabbatical in the courses she teaches and in her role as the director of the Randall and Carol White Reading and Mathematics Centers. “I’ve used many videos from Para Los Ninos as real-world teaching experience for my students,” she says. Her time in Los Angeles proved to be exactly what a sabbatical should be, an enriching academic opportunity yet also an exciting adventure.
Lifelong educator Dr. Mary Winstead Bonner and her husband, Dr. Thomas Bonner, went back to school and earned doctorates from OSU’s College of Education in 1968 and 1967. Together, they broke ground as pioneer AfricanAmerican education faculty, and their gifted teaching inspired a generation of students to reach higher.
Tom died in 2004, but the Bonners’ influence will live on through an endowed scholarship in education. And Mary still enjoys a lifelong income from a charitable gift annuity she established with the OSU Foundation. We look forward to the impact the Bonner gifts will have on yet another generation of scholars. Contact us today for a free, personalized example of the benefits you could receive with a charitable gift annuity.
Oklahoma State University Foundation Office of Gift Planning
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
Debra Hulse / (405) 385-5148 / giftplanning@OSUgiving.com / OSUgiving.giftlegacy.com
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Answering Hope’s Whisper STORY CHRISTY LANG
PHOTOGRAPHY GARY LAWSON
Amanda Baker’s story is one of perseverance and determination. It’s one of discovering a passion and making a difference. Baker graduated from OSU with a bachelor’s degree in leisure studies and therapeutic recreation in December 2009. Her pursuit of that degree began more than seven years earlier, and the reasons for her career choice formed well before that. Baker gave birth to a son, Jacob, when she was 15 years old. “Having a child young carries a stigma that you are going to be a statistic,” she says. Baker decided she would not become a statistic. Her goal was to get an education. She graduated high school at the top of her class and a year early. “My son made me grow up and set goals and be motivated,” she says. Baker completed an associate’s degree from Tulsa Community College in 2007. She already had an interest in psychology or social work, and then a faculty member at TCC told her about OSU’s therapeutic recreation program. “That’s what I want to do,” she thought.
Recreational therapists use leisure activities to treat patients in physical rehabilitation hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment facilities, schools and other areas, helping them recover from illnesses or injuries or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Baker had grown up as an OSU fan. Her dad, Robert, graduated from the OSU Institute of Technology, formerly OSUOkmulgee. Feeling energized and excited about the next phase of her educational experience, she prepared to transfer to OSU. A serious car accident threatened her study at OSU. Though she didn’t know it initially, Baker had broken her neck and required major surgery at the beginning of August, including the placement of plates and screws in front and behind her spine and the fusion of two discs that had dislodged and were pressing her spinal cord. Forced to wear a neck brace for three months, Baker couldn’t drive, a major obstacle since she was planning to commute to Stillwater from her home in Inola, Okla. She was determined to continue, and her mother drove her to Stillwater to enroll for the fall semester.
Baker began the semester hoping she would be able to take the Big Orange Bus from Tulsa, but the commute and pain from the injury proved to be too much. “Since I couldn’t look down to take notes, a leisure studies faculty member, Donna Lindenmeier, made a desk for me and took it to all of my classes. The faculty members were very accommodating and helped me so much,” Baker says. “I really wish I could have finished that first semester, but I wasn’t able to apply myself the way I wanted to,” Baker says. “It was really discouraging, but I knew that as soon as I got the neck brace off, I was coming back.” And she did return in January 2008. Tim Passmore, associate professor in the School of Applied Health and Educational Psychology, recalls Baker’s daily commute and her strong work ethic. continues next page
“I could say, ‘I haven’t been in your shoes, but I’ve been through some things.’”
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She helped juveniles study for the GED and fill out applications for financial aid, trade school or college. She offered tips on how to dress and how to interview for a job. Baker even wrote a community reintegration program the superintendent approved. “I felt like our biggest responsibility was to empower them and motivate them,” she says, noting that being able to share her story and background helped make a connection.
“After working at both facilities, I found that therapeutic recreation is my purpose. I was fortunate to have had these internships. The experiences were exactly what they should be, and I felt prepared to go out into the workforce. ” Baker’s determination and perseverance paid off in December 2009 when she participated in commencement exercises at OSU. It was a special day she shared with her now 9-year old son. “Jacob has been my complete motivation,” she says. “He “When the world says, ‘Give up,’ Hope whispers, wanted to sit on my lap at graduation so he could throw my hat. ‘Try it one more time.’” — Author Unknown He made me a card that said, “I could say, ‘I haven’t been in ‘You finally finished it, Mom. I in Sand Springs, Okla., your shoes, but I’ve been through love you and I’m proud of you.’ operated by the Office of some things.’” That was the greatest.” Juvenile Affairs. The experience empowered After graduation, Baker Many of the Rader Baker as well. “The staff taught immediately began a full-time Center’s residents were me how to break barriers and position as one of two certified involved in gangs, and all how to be realistic and optimistic therapeutic recreation specialists came from tough situations. at the same time. They got me at Parkside, where she provides Baker had to overcome trust in the frame of mind that if I can daily recreation therapy for the issues and build relationships. help just one individual succeed, youth in residential treatment The internship provided an units and has passed the national opportunity to make a significant I feel like I have done my job.” During her senior year, Baker certification exam. impact, and she embraced the accepted an internship at Park“I love my job,” she says. “I challenge. side, a psychiatric hospital and believe in my profession and “Being around at-risk youth clinic in Tulsa. She worked in the am proud to be a part of it. I when I kind of was one, I could am truly able to see the value see that you could take that, inpatient acute adolescent and wallow in it and stay there, or acute adult units helping patients and importance of the positive outcomes we reach every day you could say, ‘I’ve been there, find coping skills through leisure through recreation therapy. done that.’ It was the most amaz- and recreation. “There is always the opportuing thing I’ve ever experienced. “I had an amazing supervisor, nity to learn and grow through When I left there, I felt like I had Millicent Nole, who graduated every situation and challenge we 180 brothers.” from OSU. She taught me so experience in life.” Baker not only provided much,” Baker says. direction and guidance during recreation time, she recognized needs and took the initiative to meet them. “Amanda was a dedicated and very successful student. She excelled in all of her courses and was always at the top of her class in GPA,” he says. Along with Passmore, Baker credits Jerry Jordan, the Christine Cashel Endowed Professor in Leisure Studies, with guiding her through the program. The leisure studies program requires two internships. Baker completed the first at the L.E. Rader Center, a residential facility for male delinquent youth
Meeting.... Oklahoma’s Need for... Educators PHOTOGRAPHY GARY LAWSON
The College of Education is helping meet national and state needs for
teachers through a pair of grant
programs, the Teacher Education
Assistance for College and Higher
Education and the Teacher Shortage Employment Incentive Program.
“We encourage our teacher education students to consider taking advantage of the TEACH and TSEIP grants,” says Bob Davis, associate dean and director of student services for the College of Education. “Both programs offer significant financial incentive to students and graduates while providing highly qualified and well prepared teachers in key subjects and areas for Oklahoma and beyond. It’s a win-win situation.”
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education
A federal program administers the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education, TEACH, grants. The grants provide educational funding for undergraduate and graduate students who commit to teaching in a high-need field in a lowincome district for four years within the first eight years after graduation. The TEACH grant is available to students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in shortage areas, including secondary education mathematics and science or foreign language education for pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The grant is also available for students pursuing a graduate degree in special education at OSU. To qualify for the TEACH grant, students must score above the 75th percentile on any subset of the ACT or SAT or have a high school and college gradepoint average of 3.25 or higher. The grant also requires that students maintain the same GPA to continue receiving funding. During the 2009-10 academic year, 82 OSU students used TEACH grants.
Teacher Shortage Employment Incentive Program
In an effort to recruit mathematics and science teachers, Oklahoma offers financial incentive through the Teacher Shortage Employment Incentive Program. Students who have graduated from an accredited teacher education program in Oklahoma can receive reimbursement for eligible student loan expenses or an equivalent cash benefit by committing to teach in an Oklahoma public secondary school for at least five years. To date, 116 OSU graduates are part of TSEIP. The annual award is based on a formula not to exceed three times the average annual cost of undergraduate tuition and fees at institutions in the state that offer teacher education. For example, the amount for the 2009 award was $13,602. Teachers receive the funds at the conclusion of their fifth year of service. In 2009, 12 of the 21 teachers completing five years of service graduated from OSU. One of those, Jill Ireland Bloyd, 2004 secondary mathematics education graduate, recommends TSEIP. “I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to get my education from OSU. The College of Education prepared me well for many situations I have faced in my first five years of teaching,” she says. “I am also very thankful for the TSEIP program, and I would strongly encourage any student who plans to teach science or math in Oklahoma to sign up.” COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
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A TEACH grant is helping Destiny
Murray continue
her studies in OSU’s special education program, which allows students to complete both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in five years.
Future Special Educator, Destiny Murray
One Student’s Story:
PHOTOGRAPHY PHIL SHOCKLEY
For Destiny Murray, TEACH, the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education grant, made perfect sense. When she arrived at OSU from Southeast High School in Oklahoma City, Murray knew she wanted to be a teacher. After considering secondary mathematics, she changed her major to elementary education. She further defined her career path when she took the special education introductory course, “Educating the Exceptional Learner,” taught by assistant professor Jamie Van Dycke. “My cousin has a learning disability, and I tutored her. It wasn’t that effective. I kept thinking, ‘What can I do to help her,’ and I didn’t know. I didn’t have any tools or knowledge,” Murray says. “I went to Dr. Van Dycke’s class, and I thought, ‘Wow.’ Everything she said was applicable to all students. You have students with disabilities and those without. The teacher has to reach all of them.” continues next page
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Murray says the class changed her. Van Dycke introduced the college’s relatively new special education program, which allows students to complete both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in five years, and outlined ways to help pay for it. Murray’s scholarships and financial aid expired after four years at OSU, and the TEACH grant gave Murray the final push to delay graduation and continue in the special education program. She had a strong desire to teach in a low-income school and using the TEACH grant offered the opportunity to help pay for an extra year of school. She has already seen the additional education pay off. “I tutored my cousin again this summer, and it worked better. I have learned how to assess a student with disabilities and develop individualized lesson plans. I think majoring in special education is going to make me a better teacher. I’m more confident going into the classroom,” she says. Murray encourages other teacher education majors to consider pursuing the special education degree with the help of a TEACH grant. Every class has students with disabilities, and being prepared is the way to become an effective teacher for all the students, she says. Murray finished her course work during the fall semester and is performing her student teaching this spring. After graduating, she hopes to move to Georgia and teach in a low-income school. “I am interested in teaching fourth grade,” she says. “I would love to split my time or co-teach in both general and special education.” E
PHOTOGRAPHY GARY LAWSON
DETAILS: TSEIP
Students who plan to teach mathematics or science in Oklahoma after graduating from an Oklahoma accredited teacher education program can receive reimbursement for eligible student loan expenses or an equivalent cash benefit. The annual award will not
exceed three times the average annual cost of undergradu-
DETAILS: TEACH
Students pursuing undergraduate degrees in secondary educationmathematics, secondary educationscience and foreign language education PK-12 or graduate degrees in special education, reading specialist, mathematics or science education are eligible to apply for TEACH grants, which can serve as a loan forgiveness program. Students receive money
ate resident tuition and fees at
to finance their education by
institutions that offer teacher
committing to teach in a high-
education. The amount for the
need field, in a low-income district
2009 award was $13,602.
for four years within eight years of graduation. For undergraduate programs, students can earn a maximum total of $16,000 and not more than $4,000 per year. For graduate programs in secondary mathematics or science, foreign language, or special education, students are eligible for up to $8,000.
Additional details at http://www.okhighered.org/tseip To learn more about these programs, contact:
CONTACT FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS Robert Davis | P (405) 744-6350 | E robert.davis@okstate.edu
CONTACT FOR GRADUATE PROGRAMS Christine Ormsbee | P (405) 744-7125 | E ormsbee@okstate.edu
What’s in the World PHOTOGRAPHY PHIL SHOCKLEY
Each fall, the College of Education teams with the School of International Studies to host an International Fair at OSU. More than 400 area fourth-grade children experience the culture of countries from around the world as international student presenters teach about their cultures through hands-on activities.
College faculty and pre-service teachers are involved in the planning and execution of the event, which the College of Education and the School of International Studies established in 2005. A grant from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s Minority Teacher Recruitment funds the annual fair. see photo next page
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Class Notes Mike O’Brien (occupational and adult education, Ed.D., ’01) received the Oklahoma City Mayor’s Public Personnel Employees Award “as a public employee for contributing to the removal of social, attitudinal and environmental barriers for people with disabilities” at the Mayor’s Committee on Disability Concerns annual luncheon. O’Brien became the executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation in December of 2001.
Jill Ireland Bloyd (secondary education mathematics, ’04) is the College of Education’s 2010 Rising Star. Bloyd is a mathematics teacher at Edmond (Okla.) North High School, where she was selected the 2010 Teacher of the Year. The Rising Star annually recognizes young alumni whose lives and achievements demonstrate promise of future leadership and bring distinction to the college.
Ashley M. Battles (aviation management, ’08) of Collinsville set an aviation record for longest wing walk ever on June 20, 2010, over San Francisco Bay. Along with pilot Robert Ragozzino, Battles shattered the previous record by wing walking for four hours and two minutes.
Jennifer Crow (elementary education, ’00) was Elementary Teacher of the Year for Glencoe Public Schools where she teaches physical education.
ComputerWorld named Newman one of Management’s Top 100 IT Leaders in 2009, and The Journal Record and the Tulsa Business Journal named him one of the state’s top leaders under 40. He currently serves as chair of the OSU Institute of Technology’s Information Technologies Division. Newman is also a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma.
Christine Moseley (former faculty) became chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Texas, San Antonio, in June 2010. E
Kristy VanDorn (elementary education, ’98) received the College’s 2009 Rising Star Award, given annually to a young alumnus whose life and achievements Carol Dunn Cowan (elementary bring distinction to the college and education, ’82) was voted Monsanto’s America’s Farmers Mom of the Year for demonstrate the promise of future Paul Burrell (occupational and adult 2010. Carol and her husband, Rodney, leadership. VanDorn is an eighth-grade education, MS, ’89) is a B-757 and B-767 science teacher at Edmond Deer Creek who live in Watonga, Okla., have four captain and instructor pilot for ContiMiddle School and was a finalist for children. Ashley and Lance are gradunental Airlines in Houston. When not Oklahoma Teacher of the Year in 2009. flying or teaching in the flight simulator, ates of OSU. Kelsey and Kari are both current OSU students. Paul works with the curriculum develTerri Foughty (elementary education, opment team to develop and maintain Scott Newman (educational leadership) ’90), who teaches sixth-grade reading the initial and continuing qualification and language arts at Newcastle Middle will pilot a new fellowship program training curriculum for B-757 and School, was one of 12 finalists for Oklawith the Oklahoma State Regents B-767 pilots. homa’s 2010-11 Teacher of the Year. for Higher Education. In addition,
Janet Fultz (counseling and student personnel, M.S., ’99), the executive director of Payne County Youth Services, was recently honored for 10 years of work.
COMING SPRING 2011
Send your class notes information to
coemagazine@okstate.edu
A New Eskimo Joe’s CELEBRATES TEACHERS Shirt! Once again in 2011, the OSU College of Education and Eskimo Joe’s have renewed their partnership to create a shirt that celebrates teachers. Since 2007, proceeds from shirt sales have gone to the College of Education to support a future teacher scholarship and to the Stillwater Public Education Foundation. To date, more than $26,000 has been raised for the student scholarships.
The new teacher shirt will be unveiled later this spring. Keep an eye on the College of Education’s website education.okstate.edu or visit eskimojoes.com for the latest information.
Oklahoma State University Teachers Create Tomorrow
The College of Education is offering a series of posters to highlight its degree programs. The initial poster in the “Oklahoma State University Teachers Create Tomorrow” series features elementary education, and the second in our series, pictured here, celebrates secondary education. If you are interested in receiving a copy of the poster, please contact Christy Lang at christy.lang@okstate.edu or (405) 744-8320.
Oklahoma State University College of Education 339 Willard Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078-4033
N O N - P ROFIT O R G A N IZATION U . S . P OSTAGE P A I D S T I L LWATER, OK P E R M I T NO. 191
Education ‘Rounds Out’ Life
For information about how you can help support the College of Education, contact
Brenda Solomon, Ed.D. Senior Director of Development College of Education (405) 385-5156 bsolomon@osugiving.com
PHOTOGRAPHY GARY LAWSON