Kudos in the College of Education

Dillard’s work celebrated at special AERA session

A College of Education professor will be honored for her transformative scholarship during a special invited session at the upcoming AERA conference.

The session, which takes place Monday, April 16, features a panel of black women teacher educators sharing how professor Cynthia Dillard’s work has influenced their thinking, research and the ways they navigate academia as black women scholars. The session is titled “On Spiritual Savings”: Black Women Teacher Educators Honoring the Work of Dr. Cynthia Dillard."

Dillard is head of the Department of Educational Theory and Practice in the UGA College of Education.

Session participants will also share how Dillard’s work has been instrumental for the field of teaching and teacher education, and how her scholarship will leave a legacy for future generations of educators. Dillard will conclude the session with remarks on viewing teacher education research as both intellectual and spiritual endeavors, in conjunction with striving to end oppression and working toward a better humanity for all.

The event is hosted by AERA’s Division K, one of 12 divisions of the American Educational Research Association. Division K focuses on teaching and teacher education, promoting scholarship and research that rethinks the conventional boundaries between researchers and practitioners. This division also aims to support and promote the work of teachers and their profession.

The Division K invited sessions are part of the 2018 Annual Meeting of AERA, taking place April 13-17 in New York City.

Harman receives UGA’s 2018 Engaged Scholar Award

Ruth Harman, an associate professor in the Department of Language and Literacy Education, recently received the 2018 Engaged Scholar Award from the University of Georgia’s Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach.

Established in 2008, the award recognizes a tenured faculty member for contributions to advancing public service, outreach, and community engagement at the University.

“Engaged scholarship is at the heart of what I do in my research, teaching, and service at UGA and beyond,” said Harman, who also serves as a professor-on-special-assignment with the Professional Development School District (PDSD). “Receiving the award is a wonderful recognition that the work my colleagues, students and community partners conduct is valued by the University of Georgia.”

Read more.

Linder receives 2018 Graduate School Outstanding Mentoring Award

Chris Linder, an associate professor of counseling and student personnel services in UGA’s College of Education, was recently honored with the 2018 Graduate School Outstanding Mentoring Award in the professional and applied sciences.

The award encourages and rewards innovation and effectiveness in the mentoring of graduate students at the University of Georgia by faculty. Linder was recognized for working with her graduate students to develop their own identities and their knowledge and skills for building a more inclusive environment.

Her selection for this award is an indication of her time and effort helping graduate students successfully complete their program of study and preparing them for their future careers.

Read more.

Alumnus publishes book of short stories

Phil Sparling (M.Ed. ’76, Ph.D. ’79), professor emeritus at the Georgia Institute of Technology, has recently published “The Sneakers in the Closet and Other Essays.” It’s a collection of 24 short stories, compiled from Sparling’s newspaper columns written over the past five years, about life and how to live it better.

Read more.

Doctoral student receives 2018 Louise McBee Scholarship Award

Michele Perry-Stewart{.image_left .max_width_10}

Michele Perry-Stewart, a doctoral student in the workforce education program in the Department of Career and Information Studies, was a recipient of the 2018 Louise McBee
Scholarship Award for her academic achievements and support for women exhibiting leadership in higher education. Perry-Stewart received the $1,000 award from the Georgia Association of Women in Higher Education at the 2018 conference, which took place Feb. 28-March 2 at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega. Her major advisor is Myra N. Womble, associate professor in the workforce education program.

In addition to her scholarship as a doctoral student, Perry-Stewart is an associate professor of English at Gordon State College. She received her bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s in English education from Albany State University.

Perry-Stewart is a native of Albany. She and her husband, Steven, have two children. Her community service and other activities include executive director of Genesis Life Center, Inc., executive board member of the John Perdew Legacy Project, and youth committee chairperson for the Westview Community Organization in Atlanta.

The scholarship’s namesake, Louise McBee, is vice president for academic affairs emerita of UGA and served as a state representative from Athens. During her 25-year tenure at UGA, she worked in a number of positions, including dean of women, dean of students, and assistant vice president for instruction. In 1991, McBee was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, where she served six terms. She was chair of the Higher Education Committee from 2002-2004.