The official magazine of the College of Education, Oklahoma State University
EDUCATION 2015
Health Care Expanded Julie Croff leads the effort to add a Master’s of Public Health program
ON THE COVER The official magazine of the College of Education, Oklahoma State University
A Master’s in Public Health is the EDUCATION latest graduate degree program being added to OSU. Dr. Julie Croff, who is leading the program, has been spearheading the effort since she arrived at OSU in 2010. 2015
Page 10 COVER PORTRAIT BY PHIL SHOCKLEY/
United in Education
Dr. Julie Croff leads the effort to add a Master’s of Public Health program
6
UNIVERSITY MARKETING
Taking a Wide View
Education students and faculty members shared their challenges and the solutions they’ve devised at the latest TED talk in Stillwater.
First Graduates The first cohort of special education teachers to graduate from a program designed for non-traditional students at OSU-Tulsa are celebrating.
30
Talking TEDxOStateU
14
The College of Education is teaming up with the Choctaw Nation to enhance educational opportunities and appeal in southeastern Oklahoma.
PHIL SHOCKLEY/UNIVERSITY MARKETING
No Jitters Here
OSU Teach’s debut year goes well, opening t he eyes of science and mat h majors to possible careers as teachers. Page 2
EDUCATION
MAGAZINE
C. Robert Davis, Ph.D. INTERIM DEAN, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Christy Lang
COE COMMUNICATIONS
Dorothy L. Pugh EDITOR
Dave Malec ART DIRECTOR
Phil Shockley Gary Lawson Mitch Harrison Brian Petrotta PHOTOGRAPHERS
CONTACT
EDUCATION MAGAZINE 332 WILLARD COLLEGE OF EDUCATION OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY STILLWATER, OK 74078-4033 COEMAGAZINE@OKSTATE.EDU E d u c a t i o n m a g a z i n e i s a p u b l i c a t i o n 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 i t s m a n y s t a k e h o l d e r s , p r o v i d i n g 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 a n d p e r t i n e n t i s s u e s i n t h e f i e l d o f education. © Oklahoma State University 2015
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: 332 Willard Hall Stillwater, OK 74078-4033 (405) 744-7190. 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, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, genetic information, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This provision includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. The Director of Equal Opportunity, 408 Whitehurst, OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078-1035; Phone 405-744-5371; email: eeo@okstate.edu has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies. Any person (student, faculty, or staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on gender may discuss his or her concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with OSU’s Title IX Coordinator 405-744-9154. This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by (originating authority), was printed by University Printing Services at a cost of $6,180/4.25M 0915.
From the Dean’s Office
The Latest News from the COE Greetings,
OSUTeach is celebrating a
As a longtime faculty member
successful first year on campus.
and interim dean for the second
Welcome to the 2015 issue
We are proud to partner with the
time, I have had the joy of watch-
of Education magazine. I am
College of Arts and Sciences on this
ing the college grow in its impact
excited to share with you some
program to prepare more excel-
and influence. We are proud of the
of the incredible people and work
lent teachers in the critical areas
breadth of programs in the College
happening across our college.
of mathematics and science. The
of Education. With degree options
program has received tremendous
that span K-12 and higher educa-
individual and corporate support,
tion, physical and mental health and
education and promotion assistant
The cover features health
which has led to scholarship
aviation, all of our programs are
professor Julie Croff. Dr. Croff has
and internship opportunities for
bound by a commitment to improv-
been a central figure in the develop-
students. We are very excited about
ing the lives of children, adolescents,
ment and implementation of OSU’s
the future of OSUTeach.
adults, families and communities.
new and unique Master of Public Health program, which emphasizes
We look forward to another year of With support from the OSU
strengths found across academic
Center for Sovereign Nation
units and working with rural and
Engagement and Partnerships,
underserved populations.
carrying out that mission. Warmest Regards,
the college has teamed with the Choctaw Nation for exchanges
You also will get to know several
of teaching and learning. As a
of our award-winning faculty
part of the partnerships, seven
C. Robert Davis, Ph.D.
and students. I am moved by the
outstanding elementary educa-
Interim Dean, OSU College of Education
comments from our 2015 Top 10
tion majors spent part of their
Seniors, who have high praise for
summer interning for the Choctaw
their experiences at OSU and in
Nation’s summer school program
the College of Education. One of
in southeast Oklahoma.
our greatest points of pride this past year was awarding a new
Faculty and students from
record $700,000 in scholarships to
several programs in the College
more than 330 students. We are so
of Education are lending their
grateful to donors who support the
expertise as part of a partnership
college through gifts; people like
to improve the quality of life
the late Lola Lehman, who initially
in one local community. This
made a small gift to OSU that has
Building Resilient Communities
grown exponentially and this year
project continues to grow and in
provided scholarship support for
the process, create a blueprint for
15 College of Education students.
future partnerships. GARY LAWSON/UNIVERSITY MARKETING
CONTACT INFORMATION
(405) 744-3373 • robert.davis@okstate.edu • education.okstate.edu
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
2
2 0 1 5
Adding to the Ranks
BY CHRISTY LANG
OSUTeach program marking successful debut year OSUTeach, Oklahoma State University’s new program aimed
at increasing the ranks of mathematics and science educators in the state and beyond, is celebrating early success as it prepares for its second year on the Stillwater campus. In February 2014, the university was selected as a new UTeach site and awarded a $1.45 million grant, made possible by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The first and only UTeach site in Oklahoma and one of just 44 in the U.S., OSUTeach officially launched in the fall of 2014, with the goal of attracting bright mathematics and science students into the teaching profession. A true collaboration between OSU’s colleges of Education and Arts and Sciences, OSUTeach offers degrees in biological science, chemistry, geology (choice of earth/space science or physical science), mathematics and physics. Students in the program will receive a degree in a STEM major and full teaching certification at the secondary level without added time or cost. Core elements of the UTeach program include recruitment and retention incentives, a compact degree program, a strong focus on research-based strategies for teaching and learning mathematics and science, intensive field teaching experience and personal
guidance from master teachers and faculty members. Co-directors Steve Marks (College of Education) and Kristen Baum (College of Arts and Sciences), supportive faculty members from both colleges, two new master teachers, John Weaver (mathematics) and Amy Olson (science), and project coordinator Caitlin Barnes comprise the OSUTeach team.
First OSUTeach Students OSUTeach first welcomed students in the fall of 2014. One of the unique elements of the program is that students gain experience in K-12 classrooms in their very first semester of the program. The Step 1 and Step 2 classes serve as a start to the degree and offer students the opportunity to check out teaching, to find out if they would like to pursue it as a career, and to receive an incentive stipend. During the 2014-15 school year, 29 students went through Step 1, and 13 completed Step 2. Each received $125 for successfully completing each class.
During the Step 1 class, OSU students spend time with mentor teachers in elementary classrooms, learning classroom management practices and how to create and teach lessons. In Step 2, students go into middle school classrooms and begin to separate into their areas of study (mathematics or science). The initial classes are for one-credit hour, an easy fit on top of a regular 12 or 15-hour class load.
Organizers discuss the OSUTeach program with a group of interested students.
“I think one of the greatest things about this program is that students get to experience teaching right away,” Olson says. “It helps them make informed decisions about their future and see that as an educator they can have a greater impact on the world.” The program projects similar enrollment in Step 1 and Step 2 classes this fall, as nearly 40 students have a declared major in one of the program’s five areas of study. OSUTeach has partnered with Stillwater Public Schools for early field experiences. Mentor teachers from the district host university students in their classrooms and work with Weaver and Olson. “We appreciate Stillwater Public Schools’ support,” Marks says. “Classroom teachers are so
important to the project. They are investing in future teachers.” Before students graduate, they will have accumulated 600 hours of field experience. Oklahoma native and OSUTeach mathematics major Danielle Cain, from Broken Arrow, has enjoyed her early classroom experiences. “I have always wanted to teach and when deciding which college to attend, OSUTeach stuck out to me as the perfect degree plan. Not many freshmen in college can say they have experience teaching in a classroom,” says Cain, who taught third-graders during the fall and seventh-graders in the spring. “I had always had my mind set on high school education, but through OSUTeach, I have expanded my interest to middle school students as well.”
Norman, Okla., native Laurianne Fisher began her OSU career with the intention of pursuing a degree in chemistry and then pharmacy school. Teaching was a fallback plan. “I realized that teaching should be my first choice. I joined OSUTeach because I can take all of the advanced chemistry classes while also taking classes that will allow me to graduate with my teaching certification,” Fisher says. Though she now plans to become a high school chemistry teacher, she found value in working in an elementary classroom. “(By spending time in an elementary classroom,) I learned some things about my style of teaching that I may not have learned teaching only in a high school classroom,” Fisher says. CONTINUES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
4
2 0 1 5
Private Support OSUTeach has been met with interest and enthusiasm from the private sector with several corporations and foundations stepping up to invest in the program and its mission. Being selected as a UTeach replication site required that OSU raise $1 million in matching funds. Thanks to generous community support and university commitment, OSU has met this challenge. The program has received support from AT&T, Boeing, Inasmuch Foundation, Kerr Foundation Inc., Northrop Grumman Corp., Sarkeys Foundation, Charles & Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and Williams Co. This funding, along with the initial replication grant, will sustain the program for the first five years.
Eleven students with a declared OSUTeach major have been awarded scholarships supported with funds from AT&T. OSU also received a $1.1 million grant from the National Science Foundation that allows OSUTeach to give Mathematics and Science Robert Noyce Scholarships for upperclassmen and support internship opportunities for students who are freshmen and sophomores. OSUTeach and the OSU Foundation have been so successful in attracting support that the UTeach Institute requested that the OSU Foundation share keys to success with other replication sites at the annual UTeach Conference. Current fundraising efforts are being focused around endowment fundraising to sustain the program into perpetuity.
Student Engagement “As we prepared to launch OSUTeach, it was a bit daunting because there was so much to do,” Baum says. As the program heads into its second full year, it has a newly renovated home at 114 Life Sciences East, faculty members are collaborating to provide an excellent educational experience and students are taking on responsibilities as program ambassadors. “It has been great to have this new space, a place for students to come. We have seen a successful level of student engagement,” Baum says. In addition to office space for staff and a meeting area, the new OSUTeach headquarters has a mock classroom with a lab table, a Smart monitor and educational resources so that OSUTeach
and Laurianne Fisher are the first group of student ambassadors for the OSUTeach program.
BRIAN PETROTTA
From left: Meranda Golbek, Danielle Cain, Sarah Carpenter, Andrea Eakin
“I think one of the greatest things about this program is that students get to experience teaching right away.” — AMY OLSON, OSUTEACH MASTER SCIENCE TEACHER
students have a place to develop and practice lessons that they will implement in the public schools. A student-led OSUTeach group is in the works. Faculty members took a group of students to the National Science Teachers Association conference this year, and a pair of students attended the UTeach conference this summer. Six students are ambassadors, volunteering 15 hours each semester to represent OSUTeach in outreach efforts. Thanks to funding from OSUTeach and the Noyce grant,
students had the opportunity to participate in paid summer internships to gain experience designing curriculum, tutoring and assisting with camps. Sites included the Oklahoma City Zoo, the Tulsa Zoo, the Oklahoma Aquarium, public schools, Fab Lab (a design and fabrication company) and more. “A hallmark of the program is the individualized attention students are getting through these kinds of opportunities,” Barnes says. “We’re hearing high praise from students.”
As the excitement and energy surrounding OSUTeach continues to build, the beneficiaries will be the students of these future teachers in Oklahoma schools. Ultimately, the impact of a strong educational base in science and mathematics from educators prepared through OSUTeach should have farreaching results. E To learn more about OSUTeach, visit osuteach.okstate.edu/.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
2 0 1 5
6
PHOTO | GARY LAWSON
Leaders from the Choctaw Nation joined OSU faculty members at the Fall 2014 Convocation, where the “OSU and the Choctaw Nation: Collaborate and Educate” project was honored. The project received an award in the Oklahoma State University President’s Cup for Creative Interdisciplinary Competition.
Unity Prevails
BY HOLLY BLAKEY
OSU teams with Choctaw Nation to promote education Oklahoma State University’s College of Education, with support from the OSU Center for Sovereign Nation Engagement and Partnerships, has teamed with the Choctaw Nation in an effort to sustain and improve learning and promote college readiness for students in southeast Oklahoma. The partnership, which began in the spring of 2014 and includes faculty from across the OSU campus, aims to establish and sustain continual exchanges of teaching and learning for both partners. The College of Education has worked with the Choctaw Nation leadership on summer school sessions. This effort has blossomed into a field of opportunities not only for the elementary students, but for the OSU students as well.
“We decided the best way to influence the younger students of the Choctaw Nation would be to send OSU students to them (in southeast Oklahoma). They have a fabulous summer school program called the Partnership Of Summer School Education, or POSSE, so we developed a summer internship for our students to work within their program,” says Juliana Utley, the College of Education’s interim associate dean for research, engagement and graduate studies. “The interns served as teacher’s aides, which gave them extra field experience and allowed them to learn more about the Choctaw culture.” Support from OSU’s Center for Sovereign Nation Engagement and Partnerships allowed additional interns to participate. Each intern was paid a stipend of $1,000, and Southeastern Oklahoma
OSU College of Education students interned in the Choctaw Nation’s summer school sessions.
State University joined the partnership to house the OSU interns on its campus during the stay. “POSSE is a summer intervention in reading and math for both Choctaw and non-Choctaw students in kindergarten through third grade who are attending public school within Choctaw country,” says Elizabeth Payne, the OSU center’s director. “The OSU Sovereign Nations Center was created to bring focus to OSU’s service to sovereign tribal nations. The center’s collaborative model was made possible through the joint investment of OSU and the Chickasaw Nation with the ongoing invitation to other nations to join as financial partners. The center was honored to be able to support this important partnership between the College of Education and the Choctaw Nation.” OSU students interested in the internship opportunity went through an application process, and finalists were interviewed before selection. “We were able to send seven of our outstanding elementary education majors to Durant with the plan that they would journal about their experiences and share what they learned with all of our students the following semester. This experience can benefit all of our education majors, not just the interns who were there,” Utley says. The interns’ experience far exceeded their expectations. “This internship availed me the opportunity to have a hands-on teaching experience within a classroom with elementary-age students and a master teacher,” says Addi Freiner, a junior elementary education major from Tulsa. “Not only was this program beneficial for my education and future career, but I got to serve the children in this pilot program while I was gaining experience.”
Veronica Smith, a senior from Oklahoma City, is also a member of the Choctaw Nation and sees the program as an opportunity to gain experience in the classroom and to give back to the Choctaw Nation. “The biggest thing I am taking away from this experience is ultimately the reassurance that teaching is the profession for me. I realized that I belong in the classroom educating students and impacting their lives,” Smith says. “Although I was only there for two short weeks, I will cherish the memories and lessons learned through the teachers and students.” MacKenna Adams, a Lewisville, Texas, sophomore, says she was surprised at what she learned through the program. “Throughout the two weeks of the internship, I was able to see vast improvements in each of the students’ education,” she says. “The experience showed me that even in a short amount of time, children can attain an abundance of knowledge with the proper instruction and practice. This concept opens my eyes to the many different teaching strategies that can be learned and utilized in order to successfully educate every one of my future students.” The POSSE program’s director sees the benefit for all parties involved. “We are looking to develop partnerships with several entities. OSU is the most viable partner because it is a research institution,” says Larry Scott, a former public school administrator who is now the program’s director for the Choctaw Nation. “Research is very important to the future of this program for grant opportunities and to show the success of our students. My expectation this first year was to provide the opportunity to education majors to experience southeast Oklahoma.” CONTINUES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
8
2 0 1 5
“The OSU Sovereign Nations Center was created to bring focus to OSU’s service to sovereign tribal nations.” — ELIZABETH PAYNE
Tashina Morgan was one of the OSU interns for the summer school.
Scott says the two and a half counties of the Choctaw Nation have high poverty areas and a high crime rate. Sometimes teaching there can be intimidating to new teachers, he said. “Just hearing statistics can make someone not want to be there,” Scott says. “We wanted the OSU students to see that there are quality educators here and that our students are willing to learn, they just need a little extra help.” The POSSE program works with students to improve their reading and mathematics levels as well as offers at-risk students the opportunity to experience STEM education. “Our students don’t have a lot of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) opportunities in the school year,” Scott says. “One example of our summer STEM curriculum is that Dr. Kent Smith from the OSU Center for Health Sciences
came down and demonstrated CPR and discussed heart health with our students. That’s just not something they would have had during the regular school session.” As the POSSE program grows, Scott sees the internship opportunities growing along with it. “The program’s goal is to make summer school available in all 85 districts we serve. The 2014 enrollment of 450 students will expand next summer to 10 additional school sites and more than 1,800 students. The following summer, we hope to have all districts involved and enroll up to 3,000 students,” Scott said. Academically oriented residential summer camps for middle and high school students are also planned as part of the collaboration. Utley sees the benefit of this collaboration reaching far and wide for OSU.
The Choctaw Nation is documenting the OSU interns’ experience in its summer school program to showcase the POSSE program to future possible interns.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CHOCTAW NATION
“Our purpose in having these first interns share their experience is to showcase the program to other elementary education students, and even broader to education majors and the OSU community,” she says. “The program has the potential to lead to research projects that would help us know how to better facilitate the learning of Native American and rural students. We can all benefit from this partnership and we are thrilled to be a part of it.” To support OSU students’ continued involvement with the Choctaw Nation and the expected growth of the program, we invite you to partner with us through your gifts to the program. To support this effort, contact Denise Unruh at the OSU Foundation (denise.unruh@okstate.edu or 405-385-5663).
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
PHIL SHOCKLEY/UNIVERSITY MARKETING
10
2 0 1 5
E X PA N D I N G HEALTH CARE BY CHRISTY LANG
New master’s program in public health aims to serve all Oklahomans
Oklahoma is one of the unhealthiest states
in the nation. While health care practitioners are needed to treat disease, a public health
workforce is needed to prevent disease. The foundation of public health is an emphasis
on primary prevention, ensuring the health
and wellbeing of residents through programs and policies. The need for public health
professionals in Oklahoma and the United
States remains high. By 2020, the Association of Schools of Public Health estimates the
country will need an additional 250,000 public health care workers.
“The program has such a well-rounded approach to understanding health disparities.” — LAWRENCE RICHARDSON
The Oklahoma State University College of Education is home to the health education and promotion undergraduate degree program and master’s and doctorate programs in health and human performance. Julie Croff, an assistant professor in the School of Applied Health and Educational Psychology, also serves as director of OSU’s new Master of Public Health (MPH) program. Founded in 2014, OSU’s MPH program trains public health professionals to improve health and wellbeing and, true to OSU’s land-grant mission, the degree program focuses on promoting health in rural communities and with underserved populations in order to improve health and quality of life in Oklahoma. Croff joined the OSU faculty in 2010. She has a master’s in public health from Boston University’s School of Public Health and a doctorate from San Diego State and the University of CaliforniaSan Diego’s joint doctorate program. Working in conjunction with the Graduate College, Croff led a group of faculty across academic units to analyze the needs of the public health workforce and develop the MPH program at OSU. Upon recommendation of deans across campus, Graduate College Dean Sheryl Tucker appointed Croff to chair a committee from across the university that worked to develop the program. “This kind of program doesn’t really exist elsewhere,” Croff says. “We are interested in training students to reach people where they are, and helping them to be as healthy as can be.” CONTINUES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
12
2 0 1 5
“I’m excited to see their trajectory and the ways they will make communities healthier and better.”
— JULIE CROFF
Oklahoma State’s program is unique because it is interdisciplinary. Nearly every college on the OSU campus is involved, and it builds on the strengths and overlaps in health programs in the Colleges of Education, Arts and Sciences, Human Sciences, Business, Veterinary Medicine and Medicine. “It doesn’t address a single discipline, which is its greatest strength. We will continue to develop curriculum based on student interests,” Croff says. The 42-unit program can be completed as quickly as a year and a half. OSU also offers a 15-unit graduate certificate in public health that covers the core areas of public health. The certificate can be completed through a range of course offerings that include in-person, hybrid and online classes, making it easier for working adults to pursue. The arrangement also provides a good test to find out if students like the coursework, and it offers the opportunity to transfer into the MPH program. Chuck Lester had not planned to pursue graduate school, but the opportunity to obtain a master’s in public health at Oklahoma State sparked his interest. Lester works with OSU prevention programs in the Department of Wellness, focusing on substance abuse prevention. “I became interested because of my familiarity with the degree and the weight it carries,” says Lester. “What is cool to me is the rural and underserved populations piece. I like that the program gives a well-rounded perspective, and it places importance on social justice.” For Becky Taylor, the diversity of students and the impact of their experiences is one of the best parts of the degree.
“Classes are discussion-based. Some students are coming directly from an undergraduate program, and others are professionals who are coming back to pursue a master’s degree. I enjoyed having classes with other professionals and found it enriching to my own work,” Taylor says. Taylor is the tobacco prevention coordinator for a Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust grant for Payne County. She has enjoyed learning the academic and theory behind her work and has high praise for Croff. “Dr. Croff is wonderful,” Taylor says. “She has such a passion for (public health). She is interested
Dr. Julie Croff (center), with students Lawrence Richardson and Becky Taylor.
PHIL SHOCKLEY/UNIVERSITY MARKETING
in what students have to say. Her classes help us think and learn for ourselves.” The initial cohort of students includes people who are interested in wellness and prevention jobs, including three dual-degree students who are also pursuing Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. Lawrence Richardson was working toward a master’s degree in counseling, and his exposure to a research team with Dr. Croff and others in the College of Education convinced him to add an MPH. “I want to be equipped to start conversations with health professionals and community members and to assist in communicating needs,” explains
Richardson. “From a developmental perspective, it’s about meeting people where they are. The program has such a well-rounded approach to understanding health disparities.” Croff is impressed with the students in the MPH’s first cohort and looks forward to the future. “It has been wonderful and very fulfilling,” Croff says. “We have amazing students. Once they graduate, I’m excited to see their trajectory and the ways they will make communities healthier and better.” To learn more about the MPH program at OSU, visit publichealth.okstate.edu.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
14
2 0 1 5
Inspiring Ideas
TEDxOStateU speakers share challenges and solutions Do words hold the power to inspire and uplift an entire career field? How important is human connection to health? How does the will to change translate to actual, meaningful change? College of Education faculty members and students shared their thoughts on these ideas and spread inspiration during Oklahoma State University’s third TEDxOStateU event in April 2015. TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading,” and TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events to bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At this year’s TEDxOStateU, Macy Gleason, Chandra Story and Rhonda Lawes were among the selected speakers. The trio represented the College of Education and the research and work happening across its programs in a tremendous way.
Macy Gleason, a secondary education science major, shared her passion and excitement about the opportunity to make a difference through a career as a teacher. The daughter of two educators, Gleason has seen the joys and the lows of being a teacher through her parents’ experiences. Her inspirational talk, “Your Words are My Currency,” challenged others to value the teaching profession. Gleason, a native of Mannford, Okla., completed her general honors award as a sophomore. She is
active on campus and involved in the Baptist Collegiate Ministries. She also works for Housing and Residential Life as an academic mentor. Dr. Chandra Story, assistant professor in health education and promotion, spoke about the importance of genuine, face-to-face connections to wellness and health in her talk, “Social Support and Wellness.” She poses the concept of a developing a culture of health where social health is just as important as mental and physical health. Story is a master certified health education specialist whose research focus is evaluating health promotion interventions in order to decrease disparities. Story’s evaluation portfolio includes physical activity, mental health and HIV/AIDS advocacy programs. Rhonda Lawes, a doctoral student in the College of Education’s educational psychology program, focused on understanding the chasm between wanting to change and making change happen in her talk, “Mind the Gap.” Lawes’ own experiences have driven her research interests in the study of motivation, readiness for change and the impact of mindset of success. The Tulsa resident is a registered nurse.
Watch them All three talks, and others from the 2015 TEDxOStateU event, are archived online.
• Macy Gleason video: okla.st/1L2FZ3w
College of Education speakers
• Chandra Story video: okla.st/1HRXnZH
Rhonda Lawes (far right) and
• Rhonda Lawes video: okla.st/1SdkuNU
and Macy Gleason.
at TEDxOStateU included (inset from left) Chandra Story
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE OSU FOUNDATION
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
2 0 1 5
16
■
‘Building Resilient Communities’ BY CHRISTY LANG
OSU teams with Coyle schools in project to boost quality of life
The “Building Resilient Communities” Project, developed in the OSU College of Education, is working to make a significant and lasting impact on one local community while creating a blueprint for future partnerships.
From Concept to Reality
“I had the idea to leverage the resources and expertise of faculty and students at OSU to help a high-poverty community address its challenges,” says counseling psychology professor John Romans. In 2014, Romans approached colleagues Hugh Crethar (counseling) and Julie Croff (health education and promotion) about a pilot project. Fae Frederick, a doctoral student in the counseling psychology program and Tonya Hammer, another counseling faculty member, joined the group. School administration professor Ed Harris suggested visiting with Josh Sumrall, a doctoral student
in the school administration program who is the superintendent for Coyle Public Schools. Located about 20 miles west of Stillwater in Logan County, the school district serves Coyle, Meridian and Langston in a high-poverty area with roughly 300 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Sumrall welcomed the assistance.
Beginning the Work The OSU team met with school district personnel to discuss a list of initial targets that would benefit the school and community — parental education and involvement, health initiatives, job and entrepreneurial
training, after-school programs, electives such as art, music and drama and more. The group is conducting a community needs assessment and developing a town hall discussion with community leaders and residents to ask for feedback. “These (projects) will help us gather data to better serve the community,” Frederick says. “We want to fill gaps identified by community members.” Like many districts, Coyle is challenged with low funding and large class sizes, Sumrall says. Just one counselor serves all of its students. She is also the district’s testing coordinator and handles college preparation,
“The partnership is meant to foster the communities’ sense of togetherness and encourage community members to participate.” — JOHN ROMANS guiding students through admission and scholarship applications and more. To assist the counselor, Crethar, an associate professor in the College of Education’s counseling program, assigned two interns from the community counseling master’s program to work with her 20 hours a week as part of a practicum experience. “Guidance lessons for the K-12 students have gone from one time a month to now once a week. Those lessons have been targeted to meet both academic and career needs,” Crethar says. The OSU interns also created small groups to cover study skills, organization and students’ concerns. In addition, a career fair was developed for the high school grades that do not have to take
standardized tests. The counseling interns’ impact will be evaluated as part of the project’s research. The school’s foundation raised funds to construct a greenhouse. The OSU team includes Jon Ramsey (agricultural education), who is consulting with Coyle’s agricultural teacher, OSU graduate Bailey Platt. The team received funding from Whole Foods to sustain and further the garden initiative. Food grown in the garden could be sold to the community or used by the school cafeteria, Sumrall says. The food source could be tremendously important to an area that lacks grocery stores and restaurants.
The “Building Resilient Communities” project had help from Alpha Phi Omega volunteers in doing an art show (above) for sixth- to eighth-graders in Coyle, Okla. The Whole Foods Foundation (below) is supporting the project’s gardening efforts.
CONTINUES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
18
2 0 1 5
The Coyle Public Schools are located about 20 miles west of Stillwater in Logan County and serve students from Coyle, Meridian and Langston.
Efforts are also being made to help Coyle upgrade its technology. About five years ago, Coyle became a one-to-one laptop district for grades seven through 12. Susan Stansberry and Toby Brown with the education technology program have made recommendations about replacement devices and identified grant opportunities to help cover the cost. The team partnered with volunteers from Alpha Phi Omega, which hosted a career day for sixth- through eighthgraders and sponsored a Black History Month Art Show to increase recognition of AfricanAmerican culture in the school. A new parent-teacher taskforce is working to create and run a family/school connection initiative that will begin this fall. Significant grant funding is also being sought to support after-school programming in health education, robotics, Spanish, art and music as well as additional tutoring, mentoring and support groups.
Charting the Course Members of the OSU team and Sumrall meet regularly to discuss progress and make plans. The “roundtable discussions” have proven to be great brainstorming sessions. What started with a core of faculty members in the College of Education has expanded to include colleagues from the Colleges of Human Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, and Engineering, Architecture and Technology. Tamara Mix from Sociology is consulting on the needs assessment with the help of a graduate student from her department. College of Education grants specialist Tim Schlais is lending his expertise as well. The project uses communitybased participatory research models to design and evaluate initiatives and outcomes. Data will be gathered continuously to develop guidelines for future
partnerships as well as provide outcomes that can be used to apply for funding to sustain, further and create new initiatives. Initiatives require the support and participation of community members to ensure they can be sustained with or without OSU support. “The partnership is meant to foster the communities’ sense of togetherness and encourage community members to participate,” Romans says. “(This project) is certainly helping in the short term, but I believe the long-term payoff will be tremendous,” Sumrall says. “We have a vision for our community to come closer together. I’m so grateful that OSU has taken us under its wing. I can’t say thank you enough.” E To learn more about the Building Resilient Communities project, visit education.okstate.edu/osubrc.
Rewarding Lifelong Learning OLLI@OSU wins second million-dollar endowment
“The success of the program is due to the many volunteers who organize and teach the courses, as well as those who continue to have a passion for learning.” Since the program began in 2005, more than 14,000 people have taken over 600 courses through OLLI@OSU. The first million-dollar gift was made in September 2010. “It is so exciting to see the growth of this program and how many people it reaches,” Sirbaugh says. “This program remains committed to continuing education for seniors by providing enriching experiences that improve their quality of life through classes, travel and other activities.” E For more information on the program and upcoming classes, call the OLLI office at 800-765-8933 or go to education.okstate.edu/olli.
MITCH HARRISON
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Oklahoma State University (OLLI@OSU) received a second $1 million endowment from the Bernard Osher Foundation this past spring. The College of Education serves as the home for OLLI@OSU, which is directed by Ruth McCarthy Sirbaugh. The grant helps fund the engagement program that provides courses, workshops and travel trips for people 50 and older at sites in Stillwater, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Bartlesville and Yukon. “OLLI is a perfect example of OSU’s historic land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach,” says OSU President Burns Hargis. “The program is an incredible resource, and we are delighted the Osher Foundation has once again made a generous gift to support our efforts.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
20
2 0 1 5
Regents Teaching Award goes to Utley
Role models come in many forms, ranging from far-off celebrities to people who live under the same roof. For many small-town kids, it is often a teacher. Rural schools are the backbone of small communities, and teachers can have an especially strong impact. This was the scenario for Juliana Utley, recipient of the Regents Distinguished Teaching Award for the College of Education. Growing up in Milburn, Okla., and graduating with just 20 students in her class, Utley points to an elementary teacher and high school mathematics teacher who inspired her to choose the teaching profession. “I liked math and science and was pretty good at them. But my high school math teacher taught us through practical application and it just made sense,” Utley says. It was much earlier than that — the third and fourth grade — when her teacher recognized her mathematical ability and encouraged her to help other students. “Our school was so small we had one teacher for every two grades, so my third- and fourthgrade teacher asked me to help other students. I realized then that I liked teaching others,” Utley says. Following a couple years at junior college, Utley transferred to Oklahoma State University to complete her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and secondary mathematics education. For the next 17 years, her teaching stints followed
her husband’s career through several communities before landing in Yale, Okla., in 1997. “I was ready for a change, and working on my master’s degree was the natural next step,” Utley says. “I didn’t set out to get a Ph.D. but was encouraged to do so by a faculty member.” She received her master’s in 2000 and her doctorate in 2004. She taught at OSU in various capacities between 1999 and 2006, when she joined the College of Education faculty as a professor. In 2014, the OSU Board of Regents presented Utley with a Regents Distinguished Teaching Award. The award is given to one faculty member in each college annually. The recipient must show unusually significant and meritorious achievement in the
instruction of students (graduate and/or undergraduate) for a significant period of years. “My teaching philosophy is very student-centered. It’s about meeting their needs,” she says. “I keep my eye on content and what’s important, but I know what’s going to help students understand is creating hands-on learning to make curriculum make sense in the world. “I don’t want them to walk out being able to mimic a concept. I want them to understand the why. Yes, they have to be able to perform process and procedure, but my job is to engage them and motivate them,” Utley says. Along with her instructional duties as an associate professor, Utley is the co-director for the Center for Research on STEM
“My teaching philosophy is very studentcentered. It’s about meeting their needs.”
— JULIANA UTLEY
OSU COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Rick Davis of the Oklahoma State Board of Regents presents the 2014 Regents Distinguished Teaching Award to associate professor Juliana Utley.
Teaching and Learning and holds the Alice Phillips Endowed Professorship in Elementary Education. She was also recently named the interim associate dean for research, engagement and graduate studies in the College of Education. Utley serves on the curriculum committee for OSUTeach, another fairly new initiative in the college. She is also the incoming president for the
National Research Council on Mathematics Learning. Even with that long list of responsibilities and appointments, Utley’s priority continues to be the students. “I want our students to understand that faculty are here to support them. We want them to come by during office hours and utilize our support when they need it,” she says. “I think they [students] think we are too
busy, but we truly make time for students. Teaching is at the top of our priorities even though we have a lot going on.” With her teaching philosophy and concern for students’ success, there’s no doubt Juliana Utley has been a role model for OSU students. E
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
22
2 0 1 5
Honoring Excellence College of Education recognizes three faculty members for their teaching efforts and work on
PHIL SHOCKLEY/UNIVERSITY MARKETING
international education and with graduate students in series of annual awards
Julie Angle, associate professor in the School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership, was the 2015 Teaching Excellence Award winner and the college’s nominee for the coming year’s Oklahoma State University Regents’ Teaching Award. “Dr. Angle is a tireless advocate for her students; it is only fitting that she be recognized with this award, which celebrates her contributions to the academic and professional growth of undergraduates who plan to be teachers of secondary school sciences,” former Dean Pamela “Sissi” Carroll says. The award recognizes significant and meritorious achievement in the instruction of students for a period of years and unusual effort devoted to ensuring the quality of the classroom learning experience.
Angle joined the faculty at OSU in 2009 and serves as director of the secondary science education program for the college. In 2013, she received the University Teaching Excellence Award from the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association. She served as co-chair for the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards – Science Standards Revision Committee in 2011-2012, and on the executive committee for the development of the revised Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science in 20132014. Angle works closely with science faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences and has received more than $5 million in grant funding. Formerly an Oklahoma high school biology and chemistry teacher in Alva and Medford, Angle achieved National Board Certification in 2003, the same year she was inducted into the Oklahoma Science and Engineering Fair Hall of Fame. She was a finalist for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 2007. Prior to her faculty appointment at OSU, she was a 2008-2009 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow and worked in Arlington, Va., for the National
Science Foundation in cyber infrastructure where she led the learning and workforce development taskforce. Angle is a past president of the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association and currently serves on several executive boards and advisory committees in support of science education.
Toni Ivey, associate professor in the School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership, is the 2015 recipient of the College of Education’s Graduate Faculty Excellence Award. The honor also made her the college’s nominee for the Graduate and Professional Student Association’s Phoenix Award. “Dr. Ivey has found informal and formal ways to welcome learners into the ‘professional conversations’ of science
education through her teaching, research, and service, each of which is infused with the high quality work of graduate students,” Carroll says. The Graduate Faculty Excellence award recognizes exemplary achievement in leadership, scholarship, professional involvement, and university and community service, especially as it relates to involvement with graduate students. Ivey came to OSU in 2009 and teaches the elementary science methods course that is part of the elementary education program, for which she is the program coordinator. She also teaches a doctoral-level course that focuses on designing and conducting mixed methods research. Ivey also serves as co-director of the Center for Research on STEM Teaching and Learning and is involved in the OSUTeach program for undergraduates seeking secondary science or mathematics certification. Ivey serves on the board for the Oklahoma Association for Environmental Education and is active in the School Science and Mathematics Association. “As a science-teacher educator, I want my students to gain confidence in their teaching abilities and develop deeper understandings of what it means to teach science in ways that allow for students’ conceptual understandings,” Ivey says. “As an educational researcher, I want my graduate students to develop into competent, practical and thoughtful researchers. As such, I want my courses to give them
opportunities to develop a strong theoretical foundation on which they can design practical research to push them closer to their goals as graduate students.” Ivey says working with graduate students is one of the highlights of her job. “Learning is a two-way street when I am working with my graduate students as they keep me current,” she says. “I really enjoy the relationships that I get to build with my graduate students as I work with them over the course of their program. You are just as likely to find me mentoring a graduate student at my office table or my kitchen table.”
Stephen Wanger, associate professor in the School of Educational Studies, is the 2015 recipient of the International Education and Outreach Award and the college’s nominee for the OSU Outreach Faculty Excellence Award from the office of International Education and Outreach. “Dr. Steve Wanger has helped all faculty in the college understand that international programs grow through the establishment
of solid, trusted relationships. He sets high expectations for students and colleagues,” Carroll says. This award recognizes unusually significant and meritorious achievement in international education. Wanger earned his doctorate in 2004 and has been teaching at the university level ever since. He came to OSU in 2006 and teaches multiple doctoral courses within the higher education administration program. In 2013, Wanger received the College of Education’s Teaching Excellence Award. Wanger has been instrumental in developing a relationship with Dong Nai University in Vietnam. The College of Education and DNU are working together on teaching and research activities. OSU faculty members have taught courses at DNU in Vietnam, and the college has hosted DNU faculty members for courses in Stillwater. “The more I study higher education, the more I realize that the pace with which the globe is shrinking is rapidly escalating,” Wanger said. “Policies, issues, opportunities and challenges that arise in Asia, Latin America, Europe and Africa impact higher education in the United States far more than we realize or want to admit. Because of this, I consider it a great privilege and a high honor to work with, learn with and research with students from across the globe and with students from the U.S. who are pursuing a global perspective of higher education.”
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
N E W FAC U LT Y M E M BE R S
24
2 0 1 5
TUTALENI ASINO
Assistant professor, education technology Ph.D., Penn State University Previously: research assistant, Penn State University
“Tutaleni Asino brings a unique perspective to the educational technology program due to his dual-track Ph.D. in both learning, design & technology and in comparative international education from Penn State University. His research interests include mobile learning, contextually appropriate learning technologies, indigenous knowledge and the role of culture in the development and evaluation of learning technologies. His scholarly work and achievements, combined with his previous work experience in instructional design, will equip him well to mentor students and help nurture the growth of the educational technology program.” ~Penny Thompson, assistant professor, education technology
GAYLA FOSTER Clinical associate professor, art education Doctorate of Musical Arts, University of Oklahoma
“Dr. Gayla Foster has taught art education courses in the College of Education for the last 10 years and now moves into the new role of clinical associate professor and secondary education program coordinator in the School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership. Dr. Foster has long been committed to teaching and promoting arts in education for children, youth, college students and adults. She is a nationally certified teacher and has served in leadership positions with the Oklahoma Arts Institute, the Oklahoma State Department of Education and public school districts in Oklahoma.” ~Jennifer Sanders, interim head, School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership
THOMAS BERRY Clinical associate professor, counseling Ph.D. in counseling psychology, University of Missouri Previously: University Counseling Services at OSU
“Dr. Berry comes to us from his most recent position as a psychologist with the OSU University Counseling Services. Prior to coming to Stillwater, he has worked as a staff psychologist engaged in the delivery of professional services and in the training of counseling psychologists in a number of different counseling centers around the country. We are excited to have him join our faculty group in the clinical associate professor role. He will also serve as the director of the Counseling and Counseling Psychology clinic. His depth of clinical practice and training will be a great asset to our programs.” ~John Romans, interim associate dean, academic affairs and administrative support
STARLA HALCOMB Clinical assistant professor, occupational education Ph.D., education, OSU Previously: educational specialist, OSU’s Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence
“Dr. Starla Halcomb comes to us from her most recent position as an educational specialist with the OSU Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence where she served the U.S. Army Defense Ammunition Center contract since 2006. Highlights from her work with the DAC include instructor training, curriculum development and redesign, accreditation alignment, mentoring program development and implementation, and Armywide train-the-trainer curriculum development and delivery. She has also worked as a middle school principal, a high school career tech teacher and as an administrative intern in a career tech center.” ~ Mary Jo Self, associate professor occupational education
TARYN PRICE
NICOLE SHOBERT
Assistant professor, recreation management therapeutic recreation
Clinical assistant professor, elementary education, OSU-Tulsa
Ph.D., health and human performance, Middle Tennessee State University
Pursuing Ph.D. in instructional leadership and academic curriculum — math education, University of Oklahoma Previously: math content specialist and curriculum writer, OU
“Taryn Price brings the energy of a new faculty member joining us from Middle Tennessee State University, where she recently completed her doctorate. Her areas of research should prove highly beneficial to the research agenda of the recreation management and leisure studies areas of study.” ~Tim Passmore, associate professor, recreation management and therapeutic recreation
MATT VANCE Assistant professor, aviation education Ph.D., Saint Louis University Previously: flight instructor, Center for Aviation Science, Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, St. Louis
“Nicole Shobert brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in elementary education that will be highly beneficial to student recruitment, student retention, and building community relations with the OSU-Tulsa community. She is passionate about education in the state of Oklahoma and beyond and formerly served as the director of mathematics curriculum with the Oklahoma State Department of Education. She has vast experience as a curriculum writer, professional development facilitator, and teacher mentor through her work at the K20 Center at OU. Her expertise in elementary education and mathematics education makes her an asset to promoting the Elementary Education Program and the School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership.” ~Toni Ivey, associate professor, elementary science education
SHELBIE WITTE Associate professor, secondary literacy education Chuck and Kim Watson Endowed Chair in Education Ph.D., Kansas State University Previously: associate professor, Florida State University
“Dr. Matt Vance brings to the aviation and space program professional pilot discipline a wealth of experience from his military service and his service to the corporate aviation industry. He joins us from a mutlifaceted career in the U.S. Navy, corporate aerospace and academia. Dr. Vance is an aeronautical engineer, naval flight officer, operations analyst, advanced business developer at Boeing Company, Fortune 100 executive, international secondee to the British Ministry of Defense, FAA instructor pilot, teacher, researcher and all-around consumer of aviation. He is an invaluable asset to the program.” ~Jon Loffi, assistant professor, aerospace administration and operations
“Shelbie Witte, Ph.D., NBCT EA/ELA, is an associate professor of literacy education and the Chuck and Kim Watson Chair in Education in the School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership in the College of Education. Through the Initiative for 21st Century Literacies Research, Dr. Witte’s research focuses on teacher preparation and the intersections of technology and literacy pedagogy. She is the incoming director of the Oklahoma State University Writing Project and the incoming co-editor of the National Council of Teachers of English journal Voices from the Middle.” ~Jennifer Sanders, interim head, School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
26
2 0 1 5
R is for Thursday
BY CHRISTY LANG
Oklahoma network supports former foster youth in higher education Navigating life on a college campus can be challenging for any student, but imagine
pursuing higher education with little to no
CHRISTIE MELLOR
family or home support.
OSU associate professor Kerri Kearney is leading the R is for Thursday project, which offers support for college students who are former foster youth.
“Fortunately, we live in a place where helping your neighbor and caring for all of Oklahoma’s children are highly valued.” — KERRI KEARNEY, OSU ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
An estimated 1,100 former foster youth are enrolled in Oklahoma higher education annually; compared with the number of foster youth, enrollment in higher education is quite low. National statistics indicate that between 2 percent and 8 percent of foster alumni earn a bachelor’s degree, compared with 30 percent of the general population. A collaborative project among Oklahoma higher education institutions, led by OSU associate professor Kerri Kearney, is working to increase understanding of and support for former foster youth attending Oklahoma colleges and universities, as well as to shape state policy. In 2012, Kearney began conducting research with foster alumni college students, those who were in the foster care system at age 13 or older. Their stories were incredible. “Many of these students had experienced unimaginable circumstances, but they were now pursuing college degrees. Their strength of character was hard to grasp. During the first round of interviews, I realized I can’t just do research,” Kearney says. “They made it to here. Now we need to help them.” Kearney, a faculty member in the College of Education, began to look at resources. Considering the relatively small population, it made sense to work with and share knowledge with institutions and individuals statewide.
The R is for Thursday (R4T) Foster Alumni Network was born. Credit for the name goes to OSU graduate Ashley Mellor, herself a foster alumna. As a college freshman, Mellor thought TR on her course schedule signified Thursday-only sessions, which led her to miss Tuesday class meetings. She jokes that she would tell incoming foster alumni students that R stands for Thursday. It became a symbol of the important basic information missing for many foster alumni students. “(Kearney) thought it would be the perfect name for the project. It’s those small details that are important,” Mellor says. Today, R is for Thursday’s focus is three-pronged — research and statewide coordination of information, direct service to students through advocates on individual campuses, and public policy. Thanks largely to R is for Thursday’s work, Casey Family Programs, the nation’s largest foundation on foster children, recognizes Oklahoma as one of only 11 states that has a formal collaboration between family service organizations and higher education. Eighteen Oklahoma campuses now have formally designated advocates to assist alumni foster students. This includes Oklahoma’s research campuses as well as two-year and four-year institutions across the state. “In many instances, foster alumni college students don’t have basic life information or support for navigating our systems. Advocates step in to fill the gaps,” explains Brad Williams, vice president for student services at OSU-OKC and executive committee member for the R4T Fund.
Advocates have taught R4T students to drive and dress professionally, to approach professors with their concerns, to navigate complicated academic processes and to handle many other challenges. “One thing that makes R4T particularly powerful is that higher education professionals are advocating within their own system,” says Dr. Greg Parks, professor of psychology and R4T advocate at Oklahoma City Community College. “We are insiders — we know each other and we have access to information and tools for solving student problems that are quite different from what someone outside of higher education can leverage.” Rebeca Hayes, an OSU alumna who participated in those early interviews with Kearney, appreciated the effort to connect to foster alumni college students. Hayes was an intern with R is for Thursday as an undergraduate. She is now working for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, passing along her experience to make a difference for kids who are where she has been. Hayes is one of many foster alumni who help those coming behind them. “Typical kids have a legacy,” Hayes says. “It’s not easy to be the kid who has no family and stays alone in the dorms during school breaks.” CONTINUES
R4T students and graduates from campuses across Oklahoma speak about their experiences during the third annual R is for Thursday Conversation. The event is held each July.
Undem quuntur, que aut hicillore archili tincto expeditem volorestem fugit, sae officit praecus, occusam vel molor VFDBGSDFGBGDBSG.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
28
2 0 1 4
Beatrize Martinez (left), a recent Oklahoma City University graduate, and Kerri Kearney pose with Bubba Bears, treasures for former foster children. Buy for Less donated the bears, and they were presented during the summer meeting.
education professionals and the public. Buy for Less donated stuffed bears for students that became known as Bubba bears, now officially the “brother bears” of the R is for Thursday Network. Kearney says, “Because R is for Thursday has functioned on zero budget dollars for three years, we have depended upon Oklahomans to help. Fortunately, we live in a place where helping your neighbor and caring for all of Oklahoma’s children are still highly valued things.” By the fall of 2015, rapidly increasing demands for the work of R is for Thursday led to an agreement between Kearney and Dr. Myron Pope, vice president of student affairs at the University of Central Oklahoma for UCO to assume leadership of the R4T service component of the Network. “We are continuing to work very closely as UCO takes the helm of R4T service, and we at OSU expand our efforts toward foster alumni research and public policy,” Kearney says.
Research and policy Collaboration for service Kearney encourages each campus to use its unique needs as a guide for developing its own focus. Some campuses have R is for Thursday student groups; others are beginning to reach out to high school foster youth who dream of going to college. All of the advocates are volunteers. The network shares policy changes and information monthly, and an annual summer meeting brings together foster alumni college students, higher education officials and other stakeholders. “There is a lot of teaming within and across institutions, as well as with external organizations,” Kearney says. “It’s an organic and evolving effort by people who have a heart for these amazingly resilient students.” In 2014, Oklahoma City-based nonprofit It’s My Community Initiative stepped in to host the R4T Fund, which provides emergency money. The 1-1-1 Project and LifeChurch.tv provided recording capability that led to publicly available videos of foster alumni telling their stories — something Kearney believes is important for further educating higher
In addition to Kearney, OSU doctoral students conduct, publish and speak about ongoing research on foster alumni in higher education. Toni Hail and Lisa Will have been with the project since its inception. Hail teaches in the social work department at Northeastern Oklahoma State University in Tahlequah and is an R4T advocate; Will serves as an academic adviser at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond and is directly involved in UCO’s statewide coordination of R4T service. Numerous other OSU students also work on the project. R is for Thursday is a true research-to-practice project with research influencing practice and practice guiding additional research. R is for Thursday organizers requested assistance in 2015 Oklahoma legislation affecting foster alumni. “What we know from research, particularly about at-risk populations like foster alumni, is too often not translated to public policy,” says Jonathan Fozard, OSU doctoral student and executive director of service management and operational excellence at the University of Oklahoma. “This gave us a chance to influence legislation for a group of students who traditionally have not had a voice.”
“It’s not easy to be the kid who has no family and stays alone in the dorms during school breaks.”
— REBECA HAYES, OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
A changing future Even with increasing attention on foster alumni both nationally and in Oklahoma, “having been in foster care is not something students want to advertise or something that they are proud of,” Hail says. “By providing support and empowering foster alumni, R is for Thursday is working to change that. We want them to wear it as a badge of honor.” Kearney cites two recent examples that seem like progress. “Students at Oklahoma City University created a large R is for Thursday banner for display in their campus gym. Students at Northeastern State University, Oklahoma City University and UCO are wearing our logo on T-shirts. These may seem like small things but, in reality, it means those students have reached a point of publicly saying, ‘Yes, I was in foster care and look at me now.’ ” Will adds, “It is a critical transition of moving from victim to victor — and we believe, and research supports, that it will change how they live and contribute during their lives.” As R is for Thursday continues to work to assist foster alumni college students to change their futures, these foster alumni graduates are likely to change the trajectories of life for themselves, their siblings and their children. “It is funny math,” says Kearney. “A foster alumni graduate is not just one more degreed contributor. Because statistics show that many former foster youth will have long-term dependencies on social systems, a graduate is a plus one, a minus one of expected demand on shared resources, and a game changer for their siblings and for their children. It is a cascading series of wins for all of us.” E
R4T Fund The R4T Fund primarily provides a final safety net through grants to foster alumni college students at R4T participating campuses who are at immediate risk for dropout due to financial challenges. The fund is overseen by an OKC-based nonprofit and a five-member executive committee. Donations are tax deductible. Inquiries may be sent to risforthursday@okstate.edu.
More information about R is for Thursday may be found at education.okstate.edu/risforthursday.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
30
2 0 1 5
New special education cohort celebrates first graduates BY HOLLY BLAKEY
Oklahoma State University College of Education is stepping up as a teacher shortage, particularly in special education, challenges Oklahoma schools. The state legislature opened the door for certification changes for special education teachers, and the first cohort of special education non-traditional students graduated in the spring of 2015. The cohort is made up of career changers. The program increased the number of OSU special education graduates to about 15, easily double the typical number of special education graduates, says Kimberly Davis, assistant professor and special education program coordinator. “We are very excited for this group,” says Davis. “They have really persevered. They had an interest but didn’t think they could do it. The new legislation opened the door where they thought before it wasn’t an option.” House Bill 1233, signed into law in May 2013, provides potential special education teachers a nontraditional route for teacher certification. “Legislation made it possible for people without an education degree to become provisionally certified as special education teachers,” Davis says.
This first cohort began in the spring of 2014. OSU starts cohorts in the spring to give students more time and coursework before they go into the classroom, Davis says. Through OSU-Tulsa, students enroll in three classes per semester with two held back-to-back on Wednesdays from 4-10 p.m. The third course is held on Saturdays, meeting three times a month. The rest is online. “This new opportunity has given career changers who may have been in human resources or accounting and now want to teach special education the opportunity to do that,” Davis says. “I have had a great experience with the program. I was able to go through the first three courses with ease and that helped me pass the OGET [Oklahoma General Education Test] and the mild/moderate subject tests,” says Kerri Moffitt, a special education teacher in her second year at Stillwater Junior High. E
Some of the members of the first cohort of non-traditional students to graduate with certification to teach special education are (top, from left): Dinnia Mitchell, Britany Costello, Caitlin Ward, (bottom, from left) Tavia Garrison, Darcy Carson and Kerri Moffitt.
Fellowships Recognize OSU JESSE PEREZ MENDEZ, head of the School of Educational Studies in the Oklahoma State University College of Education, has been named one of 47 American Council on Education (ACE) Fellows for the 2015-16 academic year. The ACE Fellows Program, established in 1965, is designed to strengthen institutions and leadership in higher education. “I am honored and humbled to be selected as an ACE Fellow,” Mendez says. “I look forward to immersing myself in this rich development experience, learning from not only the president and senior officers at my host institution through this academic year, but also the other fellows and former fellows in the program. Most importantly, I am very excited to bring back these learning experiences to Oklahoma State University and apply them in strengthening our home.” In addition to his role as school head and a member of the College of Education administrative team, Mendez serves as the John and Donnie Brock Endowed Professor in Educational Leadership and Policy. While working in public health for more than a decade, CANDICE KEYES came to realize the incredible need for behavioral services for Native American populations. “My personal life experience, tribal health work and education in population health culminated within me a strong desire to enter the field of counseling psychology,” Keyes says. Keyes was selected this past spring for the American Psychological Association’s prestigious Minority Fellowship Program, one of
12 doctoral students chosen from a national pool of more than 130 applicants. Keyes, a member of the Navajo Nation in Arizona, earned a bachelor’s in health sciences from the University of Arizona and a master’s of public health from Johns Hopkins University. “My work experience allowed me to see the devastating effects of decreased access to health services within Indian country,” Keyes says. “My interest in the behavioral health field comes from a personal place. My passion as a student has always come from my experiences, which result in an incredible sense of purpose and urgency.” That passion pushed her to pursue an advanced degree in counseling psychology. Keyes began studying at OSU in the fall of 2014. “From the moment I stepped on campus, I have learned so much about how to interact with clients and work with them in a therapeutic setting,” she says. At OSU, she has worked in the Counseling Psychology Clinic, which serves clients for a variety of symptoms, problems or related issues. Keyes’ personal interests are Native American populations, resiliency factors, public health and community-based participatory research. “Our faculty is so pleased to have Candice Keyes in our program. She came to us with a wealth of experience in public health, which meshes nicely with health service psychology,” says Julie Koch, faculty coordinator for the counseling psychology doctoral program. “We are extremely proud of Candice’s achievement and recognition through the Minority Fellowship Program. She has proven to be an outstanding student and is sure to be an excellent psychologist.” E
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
32
2 0 1 5
A Firm Foundation
BY HOLLY BLAKEY
COURTESY OF THE CLIFT FAMILY
‘OSU Family’ comes out in droves for sisters’ loss
Shayla Clift (left) and her sister, Skyla, appreciated OSU’s support during a family tragedy.
Few have experienced “the OSU Family” as deeply as Skyla and Shayla Clift. Skyla Clift came to Oklahoma State as the latest in a family line of OSU attendees: • Uncle George Clift, bachelor’s in animal science, 1979. • Dad Don Clift, bachelor’s in animal science, 1980. • Sister Shayla Clift, bachelor’s in sociology and in psychology, 2014. And she came on a mission. All three had been named Seniors of Significance, which wasn’t lost on the Amarillo, Texas, native. Clift experienced a freshman year perfectly in line with her goal. Her grades were perfect. She joined the Phi Mu sorority. Her campus involvement expanded, and friendships abounded. Then came a tragic November weekend during her sophomore year. Her parents had come to visit — first her in Stillwater, then head over to Tulsa to see her sister, who was working at an internship. But on Nov. 12, 2012, just after 12 noon on State Highway 33 west of Sapulpa, a pickup truck crossed the center median, hitting and killing Don Clift and Jana Turpen Clift in their SUV. The events of the next few days are mostly a blur for the Clift sisters, but one thing is locked in both of their memories. “I knew several people would come to the service. My roommates and some of my pledge sisters were already there with me,” Skyla Clift says. “When the memorial service happened, there were two full buses that drove down from Stillwater. Two buses of my OSU family.” “It meant the world to me (to have the students attend). Even after most of my pledge class had graduated, they still came along with so many girls from other pledge classes,” older sister Shayla Clift says. “I remember walking into the giant auditorium
MITCH HARRISON
at my home church and being amazed at how many people were there. I immediately found my Kappa Delta family, and I felt comforted to know that they were there.” For the Clift sisters, that support made all the difference. “That showed me that I had put a lot into this campus and even as a sophomore, the campus was there to give back when I needed them,” Skyla says. “It made coming back to school that much easier because I had so many people to be there for me and help me start to rebuild.” The OSU family support went beyond their friends. University faculty and staff got Skyla through the semester. “I was gone for a week planning the funeral and then the week of Thanksgiving break. I was able to come back and have dead week and finals and finish the semester,” she says. “It wouldn’t have been possible without the faculty supporting me and helping me. I had private conversations with professors who would go through an entire lecture in 20 minutes because that’s all the time either of us had, but I had to know the material because I was taking a test on it the next morning. They made it possible.” For Shayla, who would graduate a few months later, support landed on the graduation stage. “One of my dad’s closest friends and Farmhouse Fraternity brother, Rick Davis sits on the Board of Regents for OSU. When I walked across the stage at my graduation, he was there to give me a hug and whisper in my ear that my parents would be so proud,” Shayla says. “It is moments like these that confirm for me that my parents made a giant impact on the lives of people around them, and I really hope that one day my actions inspire others to help those that are close to me.” The Clift girls are ensuring their parents’ legacy and impact will continue at OSU with the Don and Jana Clift scholarship in animal science through the OSU Foundation. “OSU will always be a part of who I am. I spent six years there and made more friends than I can count. OSU gave me a family when I thought that the biggest part of my family was gone for good. You can’t take that away,” Shayla says. “I love the
Dr. Aric Warren, head of the School of Applied Health and Educational Psychology, presents Skyla Clift her award for being a 2015 College of Education Top 10 Senior.
feeling of being back on campus and seeing all the changes. I will forever bleed orange, and I will tell anyone who will listen the same thing.” Although the Clift girls had grown up loving OSU and the decision to attend wasn’t a difficult one for Skyla to make, what she has experienced in the two years since her parents’ deaths has been remarkable. “It makes me very proud of my university. You decide on where you want to go to college and what I have experienced is not something you can ever foresee, but I know that had I not been someplace where I had such a community behind me, I would not have come out on top of that,” Clift says. “You never expect a tragedy like that and never know how it’s going to affect and change your life, but if you don’t have the right people around you, it can definitely take you on the wrong course.” Clift’s course to achieving her goal took a challenging turn but her eyes didn’t veer. “I knew what it took to be a Senior of Significance when I came to campus and what an honor it is to achieve, but to receive the award has meant a lot knowing that it is something I can share with my dad even now and continue his legacy,” she says. In addition to being an OSU Senior of Significance, Clift was named one of the College of Education’s Top 10 seniors. She graduated in May 2015 with a bachelor of science in athletic training and will pursue a master’s degree while working as an athletic trainer at Dallas Baptist University. COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
34
2 0 1 5
College of Education’s Top 10 Seniors for 2015
Selected by the Student Affairs Committee, these students
have demonstrated
exceptional qualities of leadership, academic
excellence and service. Recipients must have completed 90 or
more credit hours, 24 of which must be at
OSU, and be eligible to
graduate during 2015.
SKYLA CLIFT
HALEY CULVER
Athletic training
Elementary education
Amarillo, Texas
Bartlesville, Okla.
Skyla Clift was also a Senior of Significance for OSU. Clift was involved in Mortar Board, Order of Omega, Athletic Training Student Association, Panhellenic Public Relations Committee, Homecoming Big Committee, Education Student Council and Education Philanthropy Committee. She was a member of the OSU Honors College, Students Today Alumni Tomorrow and has participated in intramural sports. She has also served as a Camp Cowboy counselor and in several positions with the Phi Mu sorority.
Haley Culver served as leadership mentor with the Ready to Lead program and an OSU orientation leader. She was also involved with Education Student Council, College of Education Ambassadors, served as Kappa Kappa Iota treasurer and vice president of the Student Oklahoma Education Association. She has also served the public library, YMCA, COE homecoming celebration and her hometown’s hosting of the Division II basketball tournament. Culver was a member of the OSU/Stillwater Community orchestra. In addition, she worked as a tutor to local elementary students.
“I have been blessed these last four years to have such a family in the community here at Oklahoma State. The people here care about me as a person, not just as a student in the class or an ID on an exam. They have supported me and encouraged me in my journey here and for that I am forever grateful.”
“I have made so many wonderful, lifelong memories throughout my time at OSU, and it has been a pleasure to be a part of the College of Education. The college is filled with faculty who have a contagious passion for education and inspire me every day to want to make a difference in the lives of students.”
TO P 10 S E N I O R S F O R 2 015
SAMANTHA MANKE
MICHAEL MARTIN
MICHAEL PARISI
Secondary education science
Secondary education science
Marlow, Okla.
Lake Jackson, Texas
Aerospace administration and operations, professional pilot and aviation management options
Samantha Manke earned the distinction of Orange Robed Graduate, leading the processional at graduation for the College of Education. She served as president of OSU’s Colleges Against Cancer for two years, executive director for OSU’s Relay for Life, was on the design team for Youth Force OKC and secretary for OSU’s National Science Teacher’s Association. In addition, she was involved with National Lab Day, Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, conducted undergraduate research with Dr. Janette Steets and assisted with presentations at the National Science Teachers Association’s national conference. Manke remained active in church mission trips and ministries in college.
In addition to wrestling for OSU, Michael Martin was a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma, a student leader for Athletes in Action, and a peer minister at St. John’s Catholic Church and Newman Center. Martin was consistently named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s honor roll and in 2015 earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors. Martin has also volunteered with Special Care Inc., Coaches versus Cancer events and service projects with his church.
“My experience at OSU and within the College of Education has been the most insightful and impactful time of my life. I have grown to be a better person and am continuing to learn to be an inspiring science educator. Dr. Julie Angle has been instrumental in my success due to her phenomenal teaching methods and passion for science.”
“My experience in the College of Education has been an awesome one. The professors in this college truly love what they do and this has inspired me to become a better teacher. The other students in the College are some of the best peers on the campus to work with. They love what they do and this shows in the passion they bring into the classroom.”
Flower Mound, Texas
Michael Parisi served as president of the OSU Flying Aggies and captain of the OSU Flight Team. He was involved with Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Eta Rho and Women in Aviation. He founded the Stillwater Aviation Day and Fly-In at Stillwater Regional Airport and has volunteered at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, cleaned a roadside area with the Flying Aggies, been a guest speaker at elementary schools discussing aviation as well as given presentations to the Ponca City Flight Club. He began flight instruction and became the aerial surveillance chief pilot for Cushing Aerial Surveillance in 2014. “My four years at OSU have been some of the best years of my life. I have met lifelong friends, received a world-class education and learned many lessons both in and out of the classroom. One of the best decisions I made was joining the Flying Aggies. This club’s rich history, powerful legacy and phenomenal comraderie made my college experience truly amazing.” CONTINUES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
2 0 1 4
36
■
HANNAH PETERSEN
TAYLOR RATLIFF
EMILY RAY
Leisure studies Therapeutic recreation
Aerospace administration and operations and professional pilot and aviation management
Secondary education Social studies
Dallas
Hannah Petersen served as an Honors College ambassador and the College of Education representative on the Honors Council. She was involved with the Therapeutic Recreation Majors Club, serving as its president, and held memberships in Chi Omega Sorority, Rho Phi Lambda, Phi Eta Sigma, Therapeutic Recreation Association of Oklahoma and the American Therapeutic Recreation Association. She completed community service with the Humane Society of Stillwater and numerous Greek philanthropic events. Petersen interned with the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, Cook Children’s Hospital, OU Children’s Medical Center and with the city of Lakewood, Colo. “Studying recreational therapy at Oklahoma State has had a significant impact on me personally and professionally. I have had the opportunity to learn and grow. I am especially grateful for the leisure studies department, including Dr. (Tim) Passmore, Dr. (Melissa) Zahl and Dr. (Donna) Lindenmeier. I learned that not only is it important to make a difference in future clients’ lives, but that I must also serve as an advocate for the profession in order to ensure its advancement in the future.”
Owasso, Okla.
Taylor Ratliff was a founding member of the co-ed international aviation fraternity, Alpha Eta Rho-Pi Iota Chi chapter at OSU and served as treasurer. She was a member of Women in Aviation, serving as president, and the OSU Flying Aggies. Off campus, Ratliff is a member of the Commemorative Air Force B24/ B29 Squadron, Women in Aviation International and the Ninety-Nines. While at OSU, Ratliff worked as the head dispatcher for the Stillwater Airport and accepted a position in the maintenance programs office with American Airlines in Tulsa. “Having an opportunity to be a student in the College of Education has been such a great privilege. The aviation community at the Flight Center has been one of the most influential aspects on my college career. In the aviation department I have met like-minded individuals who share the same passion and constantly push me to become a better pilot, scholar and individual. While I will miss all of those who have accompanied me on my journey through the past four years, I am ecstatic to start the career that OSU has prepared me for.”
Pilot Point, Texas
Emily Ray spent a semester abroad in Graz, Austria, studying history, social studies and political building. She has served as vice president of Kappa Kappa Iota, vice president of the COE Ambassadors and second vice president of the Education Student Council. In addition, she has been involved in Cowboy Cousins, Academic Integrity Panel, Freshman Representative Council and Pi Beta Phi sorority. Ray was honored as one of OSU’s Seniors of Significance. She has volunteered with Turning Point Ranch, the college’s International Fair, Saville Center and at Highland Park Elementary. “My experiences over the last four years in Stillwater and the College of Education have changed my life. I have found who I am, what I am passionate about and where I want to go with my future. The COE has prepared me to be a knowledgeable, proficient and caring teacher. My study abroad experience has had and will continue to have a lasting impact on my life as I incorporate my love for travel into my future classes. I have had an unbelievable support system throughout my college career, and I’m especially thankful for Dr. Shanedra Nowell and Leslie Evans. They have encouraged me through every step of the program. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I have received.”
MORGAN TYREE
Elementary education
Health education and promotion
Pond Creek, Okla.
Greensburg, Kan.
Kori Schultz has been president of Kappa Kappa Iota and the new member educator for Phi Mu Sorority. She also was involved with Golden Key Honor Society, Order of Omega Greek Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Homecoming Big Committee and the OSU Diamond Dolls. Schultz was honored as an Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Institutional Nominee. She has served as a counselor with Central Christian Church Camp and has worked as a substitute teacher and tutor while in college.
Morgan Tyree completed a study abroad experience in France and England and conducted undergraduate research. She was a creator of OSU’s Elevation organization and served as vice president of the OSU Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She was involved with Women in Aviation, Wakeboard Club and Phi Kappa Phi. Tyree has done community service through these organizations as well as tornado relief with the First United Methodist Church, the Big Event, Wings of Hope in Stillwater and completed projects at Camp Egan in Tahlequah.
“Throughout my time at Oklahoma State, I have been so blessed to have instructors who truly care about their students. I feel that I have learned so much from my experiences in the College of Education, and I can’t wait to spread my passion for learning to my future students. Choosing Oklahoma State was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!”
“I learned that there are an amplitude of resources available not only in the College of Education but throughout OSU. These resources helped expand my interests and realize that the options for my future are endless. I have made some useful connections with professors, advisers and other students that I feel comfortable utilizing in the future.”
TO P 10 S E N I O R S F O R 2 015
KORI SCHULTZ
Michael Martin (from left), Taylor Ratliff, Morgan Tyree, Michael Parisi, then-Dean Pamela “Sissi” Carroll, Hannah Petersen, Haley Culver, Skyla Clift, Kori Schultz, Emily Ray and Samantha Manke. The College of Education’s 2015 Top 10 Seniors were honored during the Excellence Awards Reception in May. The group represents six of the college’s undergraduate degree programs.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
38
2 0 1 5
Outstanding Graduate Assistants
The College of Education recognized Outstanding Graduate Assistants from each of its three schools based on excellence in teaching and service for 2015.
Yeorim Ana Hwang, from Incheon, South Korea, is the Outstanding Graduate Assistant for the School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership. She is a doctoral student in education. She has worked on the ARtS Initiative Project and in the Tulsa elementary afterschool program. “Ana has provided an exceptional example of how a graduate research associate can advance scholarship by incorporating coursework, scholarship and community service,” says Dr. Seungho Moon, formerly an assistant professor in curriculum studies. “As a director of the ARtS initiative, Ana has advanced her research idea in cross-cultural conversation with the use of art.”
Ashley Keener is the Outstanding Graduate Assistant for the School of Educational Studies. Keener, who is from Tulsa, completed a master’s degree in educational psychology with an emphasis in research, evaluation, measurement and statistics in May 2015. She is in the doctoral program in educational psychology-research and evaluation.
Garrett Hester is the Outstanding Graduate Assistant for the School of Applied Health and Educational Psychology. Originally from Nowata, Okla., Hester is pursuing a doctorate in health and human performance. Hester’s responsibilities include subject recruitment, data collection, analysis and interpretation working on muscle spindle and motor function with aging.
“[Ashley] has been a pleasure to work with and in addition, her work ethic and initiative are some of her strongest attributes,” says Jam Khojasteh, assistant professor of research, evaluation, measurement and statistics. “She is one of the best students I have ever worked with and supervised.”
“Garrett Hester has been a model graduate student for health and human performance, continually setting an example for other students and working extremely hard. He represents this school and community in the best way possible, and his efforts in the laboratory and the classroom deserve to be both rewarded and supported by Oklahoma State University,” says Jason DeFreitas, assistant professor and Hester’s adviser.
College of Education
News & Notes DeFreitas wins Phoenix Award
Jason DeFreitas, assistant professor in health and human performance, was recognized with the Faculty Phoenix Award, a student-nominated universitywide honor for graduate student mentorship sponsored by the Graduate College and the Graduate Professional Student Government Association. The College of Education’s Julie Koch (counseling psychology) and Toni Ivey (elementary science education), were also finalists.
Faculty promoted, reappointed Several College of Education faculty members were promoted or reappointed for 2015-16. Doug Smith, applied health and educational psychology, and Guoping Zhao, educational studies, were promoted from associate professor to full professor. Timothy Baghurst, applied health and educational psychology; Julie Angle, teaching and curriculum leadership; and Toni Ivey, teaching and curriculum leadership, were promoted from assistant professor to associate professor, gaining tenure. Assistant professors Jon Loffi, aerospace administration and operations and educational studies; Penny Thompson, educational studies; and Sheri Vasinda, teaching and curriculum leadership, were reappointed.
3 earn summer dissertation fellowships
Three College of Education students received 2015 Summer Dissertation Fellowships and $6,000 to support research work from the OSU Graduate College. Becky Hammack is a doctoral candidate in Education, option in professional education studies, mathematics and science education, and her dissertation is “Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions of Engineering, Engineering Design and Their Abilities to Teach Engineering: A Mixed Methods Study.” LaKrisa Walker is a doctoral candidate in Education, option in curriculum studies, and her dissertation is “A Case Study of Latino/a Learners’ School-Based Learning Experiences in a Suburban Public School District.” Douglas Knutson is a doctoral candidate in Counseling Psychology, and his dissertation study is “A Study of Identity-Related Factors Among Drag Queens and Female Impersonators.”
Koch joins Fulbright Specialists project Julie Koch, associate professor of counseling psychology, traveled to Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia, in June as part of a Fulbright Specialists project. She assisted with the training of crisis counselors and psychologists who work with the LGBT community and developed violence prevention programs and materials.
Outstanding advisers honored Tiffany Henry and Julie Koch were recognized with the OSU Advising Excellence Awards in 2014. Henry is a senior academic counselor in the College of Education’s Watson Student Academic Success Center. Koch is an associate professor of counseling and counseling psychology.
Ivey is part of grant-winning team Toni Ivey, associate professor in elementary science education, and OSU geology faculty teamed up for a project called “IRES: Research Opportunities in Continental Rift Initiation for U.S. Undergraduate Geoscience Students in Malawi,” which received $244,276 from the National Science Foundation. The project investigates how continents break apart with 12 U.S. undergraduate students traveling to Malawi to conduct field-based research.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
40
2 0 1 5
Angle joins NSF grant project Julie Angle, associate professor in secondary science education, is working closely with OSU associate professor of botany Andrew Doust on a four-year grant totaling $3.2 million from the National Science Foundation’s Plant Genome Research Program. Doust is studying genetic regulation of specialized branches in grasses, known as “tillers” and Angle is helping integrate high school science teachers into a research environment while assisting with curriculum development. During her senior year, Kaytlyn Goodwin, a secondary science education student, won first place in a student research poster competition at the National Association of Biology Teachers national conference in 2014. Goodwin worked closely with Angle and Doust, studying the effects of shade on Setaria viridis, or green millet, and creating lessons that were featured in her presentation.
Flying Aggies take regionals
The OSU Flying Aggies Flight Team placed first in the 2014 National Intercollegiate Flying Association SAFECON Region VI Competition, defeating six other schools and becoming the only Oklahoma school at nationals. Team members were captain Jake Akin, co-captain Michael Parisi, Paul Downing, Garrett Quinby, Lucy McCollom, Max Maroney, Tyler Sherrick, Devon Haith and Muhammad Thiam. Rick Gladden and Jade Schiewe served as coaches and Jon Loffi, assistant professor in aerospace administration and operations, is the faculty adviser for the team.
Graduate student earns counseling fellowship Graduate student Lawrence Richardson received a $5,000 counseling fellowship from the NBCC Foundation, an affiliate of the National Board for Certified Counselors. As a part of NBCC’s Minority Fellowship Program-Youth, Richardson will receive funding and training to support his education and service to underserved minority populations. Richardson is pursuing a master’s degree counseling psychology program with a mental health option and a master’s in public health.
Dustin Ivey wins staff award Dustin Ivey received the Frank and Carol Morsani Outstanding Staff Award for the College of Education in 2015. Ivey is the manager of instructional support for the college’s technology staff.
Alumna makes finals for counselor honor
Flying Aggies flight team.
Sarah Kirk (master’s in counseling, 2012) is one of three finalists for Oklahoma State School Counselor of the Year. Kirk serves as a counselor at Monroe Elementary School in Norman, where she developed a comprehensive program that includes therapy dogs. She also launched the “kindness project” to assist her students. The winner of the competition will be named in November.
College forms relationship with Vietnamese university
The College of Education has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dong Nai University, the largest teaching college in Vietnam. The institutions are working together on teaching and research activities through multiple exchange projects. The relationship between OSU and DNU has grown out of work initiated by Steve Wanger, associate professor in educational leadership, and Ky Le, an OSU doctoral student who serves as the director of Dong Nai’s English teaching program. Last spring, OSU school administration faculty Kathy Curry and Lou Sabina traveled to Vietnam to teach short-term courses to more than 100 school administrators there. This past summer, English faculty from DNU spent a month on the OSU campus studying English methodology with Le, literacy faculty Jenn Sanders, Suzii Parsons and Faryl Kander and graduate students Abby Weyen and Kiara Sabina. Future projects between the two universities are planned.
NOTES
Tim Passmore, associate professor in therapeutic recreation, received the Outstanding Faculty Member Award from the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center at OSU in 2015. Randy Hubach and Julie Croff, assistant professors in health education and promotion, were elected to leadership positions for the American Public Health Association. Hubach is chair-elect in 2015-16 and will serve as chair in 2016-17. Croff is the secretary for 2015-16. Tami Moore, associate professor in educational leadership, is serving on the American Educational Research Association Division J (Postsecondary Education) Program Committee and co-chairing Section 1: Student Learning and Development.
Representatives of Vietnam’s Dong Nai University and Oklahoma State University sign a pact to work together.
Alumnus writes book on OKC fence College of Education alumnus Brad Robison’s new book, If the Fence Could Talk, tells the story of the fence that was erected to protect the Alfred P. Murrah Building after the April 19, 1995, bombing and became a place of remembrance and hope for Oklahoma. A publication of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, book proceeds benefit the mission and programs of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Gaylord-Pickens Museum.
Tim Baghurst, associate professor in physical education, received the Virginia Peters Award for Higher Education from the Oklahoma Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in 2014.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
42
2 0 1 5
Late educators fund lifetime legacy A pair of $150 scholarships awarded to sisters Lola Lehman and Lottie Herd during the Great Depression changed their lives. Nine decades later, the impact of those initial scholarships has multiplied nearly 2,000 times in support for OSU students. Lehman and Herd established three scholarships in the 1970s and later boosted each fund through estate gifts. Herd died at the age of 84 in 1995, and Lehman followed in 2012, just two weeks shy of her 103rd birthday. “A monument at my grave won’t mean anything to anyone,” Lehman said during an interview about her life. “These scholarships are our memorials.” The Daniel C. and Mary L. Herd Memorial Scholarship supports elementary education majors in the College of Education. The Lola Lehman and Lottie Herd Scholarship helps College of Human Sciences students. The Clifford and Lola Lehman and Lottie Herd Memorial Scholarship is for students in the Spears School of Business, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences or College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Since 1974, those funds have awarded a total of $598,475 to 851 students. This year, 84 students, including 15 College of Education students, received a total of $105,000. The Edmon Low Library also benefits from endowments established by the sisters. Lola Lehman (left) and her sister, Lottie Herd.
“As time goes on, my recipients will give back, then their recipients will give back and that will go on forever.”
— LOLA LEHMAN
“As time goes on, my recipients will give back, then their recipients will give back and that will go on forever,” Lehman said. “Even when I’m not here to see it, it’s a good feeling to leave this world knowing you’ve helped create that domino effect.” Lehman and Herd were born in 1909 and 1910, the first two of three daughters raised on a Land Run farm near Woodward, Okla. Their parents, Daniel and Mary Herd, strongly encouraged higher education. The sisters shared a one-room apartment while attending then-Oklahoma A&M College. The Great Depression forced them to leave college twice and work as teachers until they could afford tuition. Their younger sister, Leone Adams, also attended OAMC before graduating from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. “My sisters and I all had better lives because of our OSU educations,” Lehman said. “I think back to the $150 we needed so desperately and how much it helped us to stay at OSU. I hope these scholarships help students in the same way.” Lehman completed a home economics degree in 1932, followed by a University of Arkansas master’s and 37 years working as an Arkansas extension educator. Herd earned two OSU degrees
— a 1938 bachelor’s in household arts and a 1956 master’s in elementary education. She spent most of her career teaching in Tulsa. The sisters received many accolades from OSU. In 1975, OSU President Robert Kamm hosted them for a luncheon to express the university’s appreciation for their generosity. The College of Human Sciences named them Distinguished Alumnae in 1989. Lehman was honored as Women for OSU’s 2010 Philanthropist of the Year. As both sisters lived out their retirement years in Woodward, they enjoyed helping OSU students just as others had done for them decades earlier. “I really look forward to hearing stories about the students who receive scholarships,” Lehman said. “Just observing and knowing more about these young people who accomplish so much is reward enough for me.”
Lehman also shared some wisdom she gained over more than a century. “Students today should remember three rules for a good life: They need to know how to be a good manager of their finances, their time and their health.” If you are interested in supporting the College of Education through an estate gift or any other method, contact Denise Unruh, senior director of development at the OSU Foundation, at 405-3855663 or dunruh@OSUgiving.com. “Lola Lehman and Lottie Herd did so much for the College of Education and all of Oklahoma State University,” Unruh says. “Their generosity serves as a powerful reminder of the value of estate gifts, which most people find to be an easy way to make a lasting difference. Just as $150 changed the sisters’ lives in the 1930s, their generosity is changing lives for current and future students.”
PHIL SHOCKLEY/UNIVERSITY MARKETING
Lola Lehman
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
44
2 0 1 5
Dr. Jeffrey D. Fair (left) and Dr. Cecil W. Dugger are the newest inductees in the College of Education Hall of Fame.
MITCH HARRISON
College of Education Hall of Fame inducts Dugger, Fair The OSU College of Education inducted Dr. Cecil W. Dugger and Dr. Jeffrey D. Fair into its Hall of Fame on May 15. Hall of Fame induction is the highest honor bestowed by the college, recognizing outstanding achievements that have brought honor and distinction to the college. Dugger and Fair are the 17th class of Hall of Fame inductees for the College of Education. Dugger holds bachelor’s (1957) and master’s (1958) degrees in vocational education from Texas A&M University. The Stillwater resident also is a 1968 graduate of the OSU College of Education with a doctorate in educational administration and higher education. Dugger’s career included 30 years as a member of the College of Education faculty and as an ambassador to Thailand and Jamaica, helping to further develop vocational and technical education systems in those nations. He has continued as an international ambassador for the university since his retirement, and in 2009 Thailand’s King Mongkut’s University of Technology recognized his work with the Outstanding International Academic Alliance Award. “I am honored to receive this award and to have so many former students, associates, administrators and neighbors in attendance (at the induction),” Dugger says. “I have been privileged to conduct classes and advise students and work with officials in over 18 sites throughout Oklahoma and in two foreign countries. All of this was made possible through the College of Education. I am incredibly grateful to my wife, Geneva, and my family for their support through the years.”
Fair, of Arnold, Md., holds a bachelor’s (1971) in physical education and recreation from Kent State University in Ohio and a master’s (1974) in physical education/counseling and guidance from the University of North Dakota. He also is a 1987 graduate of the OSU College of Education with a doctorate in higher education — physical education. Fair retired in 2015 as associate athletic director for sports medicine at the U.S. Naval Academy. Before that, Fair served as OSU’s head athletic trainer and director of sports medicine. He taught classes at the university and developed the athletic training minor that later became a major program. Fair has also sought solutions to injury prevention and continued play through recovery by creating several patented devices that have been purchased by athletic and medical equipment companies. “The Hall of Fame ceremony was one of the nicest events I’ve ever attended,” Fair says. “I was surprised at the number of people who came to support me, especially since I’ve been at the Naval Academy for 18 years. It was very humbling to be included in the list of the previous Hall of Fame recipients. When you look at the list, you can’t help but to be impressed with the leadership and dedication it represents.” E
Know a nominee? Do you know someone who should be considered for induction to the OSU College of Education Hall of Fame? Visit education.okstate.edu/halloffame or contact the dean’s office at 405-744-3373 for more information.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
IN MEMORY
46
2 0 1 5
Steve Harrist Steve Harrist, associate professor and Hyle Family Endowed
Professor in K-20 Leadership in the OSU College of Education died in Houston at MD Anderson Cancer Center on May 31, 2015, following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born in Lubbock, Texas, on April 10, 1960. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s from Trinity University, and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Tennessee. He began his career in private practice and as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas. Dr. Harrist joined the Oklahoma State University College of Education faculty in 1999 and received the OSU Regents Distinguished Teaching Award in 2004, and was honored as OSU’s Outstanding Study Abroad Leader in 2008. In addition to teaching in educational psychology, Dr. Harrist helped develop and co-direct the OSU Leadership Minor. Along with faculty colleagues, he led students on spring break trips to Belize, where they worked with the Ministry of Education on literacy education, health literacy and leadership development programs in impoverished schools in Belize City. For this work, Dr. Harrist was recognized as OSU’s Outstanding Service Learning Faculty in 2010. He developed and taught “Ethical Theory and Leadership Praxis in Britain” for the OSU Scholar Development Program at Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge in 2008. In addition, he led the university’s McKnight Leadership Program, designed to guide students to become ethical leaders. He took multiple groups of students abroad to study international leadership.
Dr. Harrist also taught outside of the classroom. His way of being showed gentleness, kindness, grace, patience, mercy and especially during the last 15 years, perseverance. He had a quiet, keen sense of humor. He was an Eagle Scout and loved the beach, hiking and reading. He came alive in asking the big questions of life and thinking hard with compassion through the lenses of theoretical and philosophical psychology as well as his Christian faith. Near death, Dr. Harrist said, “I’m ready for chapter two.” He leaves behind his wife of 32 years, Dr. Amanda Harrist, and two other beloveds, Duncan and Caroline. Memorial gifts may be made to the Oklahoma State University Foundation in memory of Steve Harrist for the Global Village Project. Inspired by Heifer Project International, Steve had a vision for a Global Village on the OSU campus — a site featuring international homes and gardens for hands-on, immersion learning for students of all ages. The Global Village aims to educate people about the causes and effects of hunger and poverty and empower them to make a difference in their own communities and around the world. Checks payable to OSU Foundation, designated as memorial for Steve Harrist/Global Village Project, may be sent to P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076-1749. Online contributions may be made at www.osugiving.com, designated to the College of Education with “Steve Harrist Memorial for Global Village” written in the comments box. E
IN MEMORY
Suzanne Yokum Wiese Longtime educator and OSU alumna and supporter
Suzanne Yokum Wiese, 57, of Stillwater died May 7, 2015. Suzanne Yokum was born on July 16, 1957, in Tulsa, to Gilbert Clifton and Betty Sue (Staats) Yokum. She attended schools in Tulsa where she was a cheerleader, 4-H member and rodeo queen. She graduated from Tulsa’s East Central High School in 1975 and obtained her bachelor’s degree in speech and drama in 1979 and a master’s in education and curriculum in 1981 from Oklahoma State University. While working on her master’s degree, she met the love of her life, Jon Allen Wiese, and married him in May 1981. Shortly after graduating from OSU, the couple made the first of what would come to be many relocations following Mr. Wiese’s career in the telecommunications and technology industry. The family relocated to Houston, and Mrs. Wiese began teaching at the middle school in Tomball, Texas. Several years later, they moved to Temple, Texas, and Mrs. Wiese continued to pursue her career as an educator. While in Temple, she had two daughters, Sara and Paige. The family spent a year living in Thousand Oaks, Calif., where they welcomed their son, Michael. The family also lived in Basking Ridge, N.J.; Plano, Texas; Waterloo, Belgium; Toronto and Tulsa, Okla. In 2008, the Wieses retired to Stillwater. Mrs. Wiese was an active member of the South Tulsa Baptist Church, where she hosted a bible study fellowship group and was involved in vacation bible school.
Upon moving to Stillwater, she wasted no time becoming a vital part of the community. She was on the board of directors at the Saville Center, where she became an advocate for abused children. She was also an active member of Countryside Baptist Church. Mrs. Wiese was a tremendous OSU fan, supporting both the academic and athletic programs. She was appointed to the Alumni Board of Directors for the College of Education, playing an integral role in organizing an annual Education Tailgate event for alumni and teachers across Oklahoma. She was also a member of the Women for OSU Council and an adviser for the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She and her husband set up a foundation to award four-year scholarships to deserving high school students. The Wiese family held season tickets for both men’s and women’s basketball games, as well as baseball and football. She was also a regular volunteer for the Coaches vs. Cancer program. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wiese were inducted into the Proud and Immortal Society at OSU. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jon Allen Wiese. She is survived by her parents, Gilbert and Betty Yokum of Olive, Okla.; three children, Sara Hedgcoth and husband, Barry, of Plano, Texas, Paige Wiese of Peachtree City, Ga. and Michael Wiese of Tulsa; four siblings and their spouses, Sherry and Stuart Lujan, Jay and Connie Wiese, Paul and Dee Dee Wiese and Carl and Debbie Wiese. E
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION O K L A H O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
W H A T E V E R I S H A P P E N I N G I N Y O U R L I F E , there’s a good chance your college exp e rie nce help e d you get to whe re you are to day. Whe n you refle c t on that tim e , you may b e ove r whelm e d by fond m e m orie s — m e eting your sp ou se , cele brating a big fo otball win , p ulling an all - nig hte r to stu dy or laug hing with p e ople who b e cam e your lifelong frie nd s . To day ’s O kla h oma State U nive r sit y students are having the same experiences as they pur sue bright orange futures . Visit OS Ugiving.com to learn how you can b e a par t of their journey. Denise Unruh from the OSU Foundation is also available to help unite your passions with university priorities to achieve excellence. She can be reached at dunruh@OSUgiving.com or 405 . 385 . 5663 .
Joe Loves Teachers!
Did you know: Proceeds from the sale of this tee have funded an Eskimo Joe’s Future Teacher scholarship at OSU for the last 9 years? And we also donate to the Stillwater Education Foundation. Total for both so far? More than $80,000! Get yours today and show your support!
Stillwater - World Headquarters Tulsa - Woodland Hills Mall 800-256-JOES (5637) - eskimojoes.com
NON-PROFIT O R G A N I Z AT I O N U. S . P O S TAG E PAID S T I L LWAT E R , O K P E R M I T N O. 19 1
Oklahoma State University College of Education 329 Willard Stillwater, OK 74078-4033
KEEP IN TOUCH with OSU’s College of Education
OSU.COE PHIL SHOCKLEY/UNIVERSITY MARKETING
@OSUCollegeofEd
okstate_coe