LEAP Forward: Spring 2013 Newsletter

Oksana Parylo, a Ph.D. candidate in the Program of Educational Administration and Policy was awarded first place in the Mixed Methods Division for the research poster submitted for the Graduate Student Research Conference held May 3, 2011 at the College of Education, University of Georgia.

William G. Wraga, a professor of educational administration and policy, has published an article titled, “What’s the Problem with a ‘Rigorous Academic Curriculum’?: Setting New Terms for Students’ School Experiences” in The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, Pages 59 – 64.

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As a campus minister with the Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Nathan Byrd is in constant contact with undergraduate students, either through counseling or working with them on ministry projects. Some of his students even talked him into riding his bike 300 miles to Jacksonville, Fla. during fall break as part of a fundraiser for collegiate summer missions. He didn’t seem to mind too much though, because he has had to sacrifice cycling time while pursuing his Ph.D. in adult education. After completing his degree in May, Nathan will continue to serve students as a campus minister and hopes to one day teach at a seminary. To read more, click here.

Amy DeGroff, who earned the Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Qualitative Studies in 2009 while completing her Ph.D. in Public Policy from Georgia State University and Georgia Institute of Technology, received the 2010 NASPAA Annual Dissertation Award for her dissertation, “New Public Management and Governance Collide: Federal-Level Performance Measurement in Networked Public Management Environments” at the NASPAA conference in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 29, 2010. This Best Dissertation Award is given annually by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. Ted Poister, a professor at Georgia State University, chaired her dissertation committee. Dr. Patricia Reeves, University of Georgia, served on Amy’s committee as the methodologist.

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Suzanne Hall, a senior accountant for the department of lifelong education, administration, and policy, has received the College of Education 2010 Staff Award for Excellence.

EDAP Faculty in the News

• Eric Houck, an assistant professor in the program of Educational Administration and Policy, comments on “What’s wrong with teacher pay now?” in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
• Eric Houck, an assistant professor, an assistant professor in the program of Educational Administration and Policy, is interviewed April 27, on WRAL-TV in Raleigh, N.C., about his study of Wake County (NC) schools’ diversity policy. See link to the video on coeNEWS under “On the Air.”
• Elizabeth DeBray-Pelot, an associate professor in the program of Educational Administration and Policy is quoted in a story about NCLB. For full story, please click here.
• William G. Wraga, a professor in the department of lifelong education, administration, and policy, writes an op-ed article on charter schools in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, January 10, 2010.
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• Drs. Houck and Sielke write Education task force should focus on funding
• William (Bill) G. Wraga, professor in the department of lifelong education, administration, and policy, pens a letter to the editor (fourth letter down) on the nation’s preoccupation with “testing as an education reform mechanism” that’s published in the New York Times on Sunday, Aug. 17.
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• Sally Zepeda, a professor in lifelong education, administration, and policy, is quoted in a WAVY TV 10 (Va., N.C.) story on the importance of new teachers carefully selecting where they begin their teaching careers.

Russell H. Yeany, Jr., Research Award

Sally Zepeda, a professor in the department of lifelong education, administration, and policy, received the Russell H. Yeany, Jr., Research Award in Spring 2010, which reconizes a tenure-track faculty member’s outstanding cumulative research.