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Six graduate students in the University of Georgia College of Education’s educational administration and policy program received scholarships at the program’s annual awards luncheon on Feb. 17 at River’s Crossing.

 

Ray E. Bruce Academic Support Awards
Timothy Bollier and Feiye Wang both received Ray E. Bruce Academic Support Awards, a $1,500 annual scholarship for practitioner-scholars studying the theory and application of supervision in schools and school systems.

Bollier, a third-year doctoral student, is a social studies teacher at Mill Creek High School in Gwinnett County. He and his family have lived in Braselton for the past six years.

Bollier’s research focuses on how district mentorship programs can impact school leaders. Upon graduation, he hopes to become an assistant principal and then a principal, as well as work in higher education down the road. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and master’s degree from National Louis University in Chicago.

Wang is a third-year doctoral student whose research focuses on the development of Backbone Teachers in K-12 public schools in China from the lens of teacher leadership as explicated in the United States and offers plausible, international insights on the development and impacts of teacher leaders in different contexts.

She earned her master’s degree in education in Beijing Normal University in 2009 after working for two years as an English teacher in Chengxian College in Southeast University and received her bachelor’s degree in English literature and culture from Beijing Language and Culture University, all in China.

Upon graduation, she plans to become a scholar and continue to do research in the educational leadership field.

David J. Mullen Memorial Scholarships
David Goldie, Jia Liang and Peter Jones received David J. Mullen Memorial Scholarships, which provide a $2,500 award for a doctoral candidate preparing for a public school position.

Goldie, of Suwanee, a second-year doctoral student, is a mathematics teacher at Hopewell Middle School in Fulton County. His research focuses on the implementation of educational policy and the role of local communities in that process.

His working career began in the United Kingdom. After nine years working on submarines and four years as a telecommunications engineer, he studied for his bachelor’s degree in primary education at the College of St. Mark and St. John in Plymouth, England. He worked in United Kingdom primary schools for 10 years, the last two as an assistant principal.

Goldie has worked in elementary and middle schools in Fulton County for the past 6 ½ years. He received his master’s degree in educational leadership from Georgia State University in 2008. After receiving his doctorate, he wants to become an assistant principal, but would also like to  work for the State Department of Education or some other organization involved in the educational policy arena.

Liang, a third-year doctoral student, has worked extensively with several scholars on campus and community projects related to student service, teacher professional development and educational policy. She interned at the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning where she immersed herself with both research and administration. Additionally, she has co-authored and presented her work at several conferences across the United States.

Her current research focuses on women in leadership, educational change, and racial and ethnic identity development. Liang received her master’s degree and education specialist’s degree in adult and technical education at Marshall University in West Virginia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English in China.

Upon the completion of her studies, Liang wants to pursue a career in educational administration where her knowledge and skills can make a difference in the lives of others.

Jones a third-year doctoral student, currently serves as an assistant principal at Collins Hill High School in Gwinnett County. Before entering into leadership, he taught social studies for nine years.

Jones earned his master’s degree in social studies education from Georgia State University, and an Educational Leadership Add-On Certificate from UGA. He received his bachelor’s degree in social studies education from Florida State University.

His research focuses on operationalizing and measuring classroom rigor, and exploring the nature of teacher and student supports. Upon finishing his degree, he hopes to continue his service to the community by becoming a principal.

Carroll Wade McGuffey Scholarship
Ryan Berens of Marietta, a second-year doctoral student, received the Carroll Wade McGuffey Scholarship. The $2,000 scholarship is awarded to a doctoral student whose studies include research into the impact of the school’s environment on teacher behavior, pupil behavior and learning.

Berens is currently working for the Georgia Department of Education in Instructional Technology. He oversees seven one-to-one schools that are working towards incorporating blended learning and the statewide technology assessment for 8^th grade students.  He also is part of the team that is implementing the Statewide Longitudinal Data System that was launched in 2010. Prior to working at the DOE, Berens served as an assistant principal with the Georgia Virtual School, was an instructional technology specialist at Kennesaw State University’s Educational Technology Center and taught history for five years at his alma mater, Marietta High School.

Berens’ research focuses on the use of technology in the classroom, specifically blended learning in a one-to-one environment.  He hopes to show the effects of everyday technology use in the classroom on preparing college- and career-ready students.

Berens earned his master’s degree in educational leadership from Kennesaw State University and his undergraduate degree at Rhodes College in Memphis. He plans to become a principal or pursue a district office position that will allow him to lead a technology-focused school upon completing his degree.

Faculty Scholar Awards
Ann Elizabeth Blankenship and Robert W. Gaines II received the program’s Faculty Award, which recognizes doctoral students who have excelled in scholarly writing.

Blankenship has focused her studies on education law and policy. Before coming to UGA, she served as a municipal and community development volunteer for the United States Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa. She worked as a civil litigator at law firms in Atlanta and Chattanooga, for four years after earning a juris doctorate from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2004. She received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of the South  in 2001.

Gaines, a fourth-year doctoral student, focuses his research on the intersection of race, religion and education, and the history of African-American education. He is currently writing his dissertation on the educational thought of Benjamin Elijah Mays.

Gaines earned his master’s degree in English from Pennsylvania State University and received his bachelor’s degree in English at Morehouse College. He plans to pursue an academic career upon receiving his doctorate.

Visiting Scholar Award
Ahmad Bilal, a doctoral student in the Institute of Education and Research, University of the Punjab, Pakistan, was recognized with the program’s Visiting Scholar Award in recognition of his contribution to the professional development of teachers for school improvement.

Bilal’s area of research is professional development of teachers. During his six months’ visit at UGA, he has been refining his dissertation work under the supervision of Sally J. Zepeda, professor in the educational administration and policy program. He earned his master’s degree in education from the University of the Punjab in 1996.

He taught in a public school in Lahore for 12 years where he also served as a magazine editor, curricular activities leader and deputy controller examination. He received the Best Master Trainer Award 2002 by the Intel Teach to the Future Program, Pakistan. He worked with Punjab Textbook Board, Lahore and Ministry of Education, Curriculum wing, Government of Pakistan to review curriculum and textbook development. During his doctoral work, he received the Indigenous Scholarship and a foreign scholarship of the International Research Initiative Program by Higher Education Commission, Government of Pakistan.

As a teacher trainer, he conducted more than 65 training sessions on pedagogy related areas throughout Pakistan. In recent years, as a practitioner, he has focused on school improvement and teacher evaluation. He designed a module for staff development by using teaching observation. This module has been piloted in Pakistan and can be implemented in any school after having slight customization regarding contextual needs.