Neag School Accolades – April-May 2018

Congratulations to our Neag School alumni, faculty, staff, and students on their continued accomplishments inside and outside the classroom. If you have an accolade to share, we want to hear from you! Please send any news items and story ideas to neag-communications@uconn.edu.

In addition to the Dean’s Office and Department achievements, explore this edition’s list of Accolades for the following: Faculty/StaffAlumniStudents, as well as In Memoriam.

Dean’s Office and Departments

The Neag School celebrated the Class of 2018 during Commencement Weekend, May 5-7, on the UConn Storrs campus. Read more about the celebration — plus, check out the Class of 2018’s video and photos from the Undergraduate procession featuring Jonathans XIII and XIV, Undergraduate ceremony, the receptions for Undergraduate and Master’s/Sixth-Year students, and photo booth.

During its May faculty/staff meeting, the Neag School recognized Dorothea Anagnostopoulos for her service as executive director of Teacher Education, as well as three retirees for their years of service to UConn: Sandy Bell (17 years); Eliana Rojas (17 years); and Mary Anne Doyle (35 years).

At the meeting, Dean Kersaint also congratulated five Neag School faculty members who have been granted tenure: Laura Burton (Professor), Erik Hines (Associate Professor), Allison Lombardi (Associate Professor), Bianca Montrosse-Moorhead (Associate Professor), and Sarah Woulfin (Associate Professor).

In addition, the following individuals were recognized:

Years of Service

    • 10 Years of Service: Sandra Billings (EDCI); Stefanie Dion Jones (Dean’s Office); Elizabeth Howard (EDCI); Jamison E. Judd (Dean’s Office); Lisa M.H. Sanetti (ESPY); Leah M. Ward (EDLR) 
    • 15 Years of Service: Tutita M. Casa (EDCI); Dorothy E. McCoach (ESPY); Jennifer E. McGarry (EDLR)
    • 20 Years of Service: Lisa M. Muller (ESPY); Christine S. North (EDCI); Richard L. Schwab (EDLR)
    • 35 Years of Service: James M. O’Neil (ESPY)

 

David Desroches leads panel discussion at 2018 Special Education Summit
David Desroches of WNPR leads the morning panel discussion at the Neag School’s 2018 Special Education Summit, held in Hartford, Conn., in April 2018. (Photo Credit: Shawn Kornegay/Neag School)

The Neag School of Education hosted the second annual Special Education in Connecticut Summit, sponsored by the Klebanoff Institute and held at the UConn Law School campus in Hartford, Conn., last month. Joseph Madaus and the Neag School brought together more than 150 special education directors, school administrators, teachers, attorneys, and others from across the state for a daylong summit dedicated to exploring special education issues. Renee Bradley, deputy division director from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, gave the keynote address. Michael Coyne and Brandi Simonsen served as facilitators of panel discussions focused on such topics as “Promoting High-Quality Academic Outcomes for All Students With Disabilities” and “Promoting Positive Behavior to Decrease Disproportionate Discipline of Students with Disabilities.” Check out photos from the event, or read more.

The Neag School participated in the first-ever UConn Giving Day. The 36-hour online effort raised more than $1,600 in support of undergraduate and graduate student scholarships through donations from faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Panelists from the panel on "Addressing Childhood Trauma in School Settings."
A recent discussion on childhood trauma in school settings, featured (from L-R): Desi Nesmith ’01 (ED), ’02 MA, ’09 UCAPP, panel moderator; Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor Sandra Chafouleas; Alice Forrester of the Clifford Beers Clinic; and Lisa Sanetti, associate professor. (Photo Credit: Shawn Kornegay/Neag School)

The Neag School, in conjunction with UConn alumnus Eric Judge ’87 (BUS), ’92 MBA and the Glastonbury Exchange Club, hosted a panel discussion titled “Addressing Childhood Trauma in School Settings,” featuring Sandra Chafouleas, co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health; Lisa Sanetti; and Alice Forrester of the Clifford Beers Clinic. The panel was moderated by Desi Nesmith ’01 (ED), ’02 MA, ’09 UCAPP from the Connecticut State Department of Education. View event photos.

More than 60 faculty researchers, graduate students, and alumni from across the Neag School presented at the annual American Educational Research Association (AERA)’s Annual Meeting in April in New York, N.Y. In addition, Dean Gladis Kersaint served on the Universitas 21 Forum for International Networking in Education (FINE) panel, held during the AERA Meeting. FINE is an international group of graduate and early-career researchers in education who collaborate on educational issues from a global perspective. Read more about the Neag School’s presence at AERA this year.

The Neag School’s Office of Alumni Relations hosted a professional development workshop for teachers at the Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts in conjunction with the campus-wide UConn Reads program in April, which featured author Viet Thanh Nguyen.

Neag School students lead the Husky Day parade.
Neag School of Education students, who were finishing up their internship experience at the Kennelly School, led the “Husky Day” parade through the school. (Photo Credit: Shawn Kornegay/Neag School)

Neag School of Education’s Office of Alumni Relations visited partner school E.B. Kennelly in Hartford (Conn.) to attend “Husky Day,” which included a celebration, schoolwide parade, and basketball game with students versus the teachers. See photos from the event.

The Neag School, the UConn Department of English, and the Connecticut Writing Project recognized Connecticut’s winners of the 25th annual Letters About Literature competition at a special ceremony at the Capitol in Hartford last month. The nationwide contest is sponsored by the Library of Congress for students in grades 4 through 12. The Neag School served as a co-sponsor of the contest for the state for the third consecutive year. Students from the Neag School and UConn’s Department of English served as judges for the Connecticut students’ contest submissions. See photos from the event. Doug Kaufman served as a faculty advisor for the competition.

Jason Courtmanche from the UConn Dept. of English and the Connecticut Writing Project, recognizes one of the student honorees. In the background is Doug Kaufman, from the Neag School, who served as another faculty advisor.
Jason Courtmanche, above right, from the UConn Department of English and the Connecticut Writing Project recognizes one of the 2018 Letters About Literature contest honorees. (Photo Credit: Shawn Kornegay/Neag School)

A representative from the Spencer Foundation visited the Neag School for a listening tour in March. Part of the Foundation’s strategic plan includes conducting campus visits at universities across the country with the purpose of deepening its engagement with the educational research community and increasing its responsiveness to significant ideas and newly developing trends in the field.

 

Department of Curriculum and Instruction (EDCI) and Teacher Education

The Dodd Center, led by Glenn Mitoma, hosted the inaugural Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children’s Literature ceremony in March, with a reception featuring awardee Suzanne Del Rizzo, author of My Beautiful Birds. The Dodd Center also hosted an exhibit through April titled “Race and Revolution: Still Separate – Still Unequal” at the Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford, Conn.

EDCI students and faculty perform.
Neag School music education students perform at a local establishment as part of a class final. (Photo Credit: Shawn Kornegay/Neag School)

EDCI faculty, staff, and music education students hosted a rock concert by The Vygotskys, featuring the Notorious ZPD, at Lakeside Restaurant in May in Coventry, Conn. The concert also featured a performance by Neag School students.

EDCI faculty, staff, and alumni, along with staff and administrators from across the Neag School, joined friends and colleagues of Mary Anne Doyle for a reception in May, commemorating Doyle’s retirement after 35 years of service to the University. See the photo slideshow that was shared at the reception.

Teacher Education welcomed participants from 60 school districts from across the state for the annual Education Recruitment Career Fair in April at the Storrs campus. In addition to connecting with recruiters, graduating teacher education students had the opportunity to interview with school district representatives for positions in teaching, counseling, and school psychology available beginning this fall. View photos from the fair.

Led by Doug Kaufman and David Moss, Teacher Education welcomed 15 German teachers to UConn for a professional development and information-sharing program. The German teachers came to Connecticut through the Fulbright program for a two-week immersion into campus and school life.

The Neag School welcome German teachers to UConn.
German teachers, along with Neag School faculty, gathered in the Gentry Building atrium prior to a UConn campus tour. (Photo Credit: Shawn Kornegay/Neag School)

Led by Doug Kaufman and David Moss, Teacher Education welcomed 15 German teachers to UConn for a professional development and information-sharing program. The German teachers came to Connecticut through the Fulbright program for a two-week immersion into campus and school life.

Students from the IB/M program shared their inquiry projects during the IB/M Master’s Day of Research.
Students from the IB/M program shared their inquiry projects during the IB/M Master’s Day of Research. (Photo Credit: Frank Zapulla/Neag School)

Teacher Education held its 2018 IB/M Master’s Day of Research in May, at which master’s students in the Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s program presented their inquiry projects from this past academic year during a poster session. Check out photos from the event.

 

 

 

Department of Educational Leadership (EDLR)

In April, the CEPA 2017-18 Speaker Series featured Beth Schueler from Harvard University, who presented “A Third Way: The Politics of School District Takeover and Turnaround in Lawrence, Mass.” Learn more, and view photos and videos from past CEPA Speaker Series events.

Speaker and event faculty gather after the presentation.
(From left): Milagros Castillo-Montoya, HESA assistant professor; Daisy Verduzco Reyes, assistant professor of sociology and El Instituto; Ruth Zambrana, professor in the Department of Women’s Studies, director of the Consortium on Race, Gender and Ethnicity and adjunct professor of Family Medicine at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Medicine; Miriam G. Valdovinos, assistant professor, UConn School of Social Work; and Erica Fernández, assistant professor in educational leadership. (Photo Credit: Frank Zappulla/Neag School)

The Department of Educational Leadership was a sponsor of El Instituto’s talk, titled “Toxic Ivory Towers: The Health Consequences of Work Stress on the Health of Underrepresented Minority Faculty,” held in April at the Puerto Rican and Latin American Cultural Center (PRLACC) on the Storrs campus. Neag School faculty members Milagros Castillo-Montoya and Erica Fernández are members of the El Foco leadership team, which helped organize the event. See photos from the event.

The Higher Education and Student Affairs program (HESA) hosted a graduation celebration as part of Commencement Weekend on the Storrs campus in May. Check out photos. In addition, last month HESA hosted a Graduate Student Appreciation Day on the Storrs campus, featuring students and campus partners from the program. See photos from the April event.

The University of Connecticut Administrator Preparation Program (UCAPP) hosted its annual Change Project Day on the Storrs campus in April. The event features the program’s signature capstone assignment, in which students identify a need or opportunity for school improvement and work toward positive change. View photos from the event, and read more.

Department of Educational Psychology (EPSY)

The Center for Behavioral Education and Research (CBER) hosted its April Breakfast Brown Bag Series, titled “Using Implementation Science to Improve Research and Practice in K-12 Schools,” on the Storrs campus. The event featured Neag School faculty members Lisa Sanetti and Bianca Montrosse-Moorehead, and Alicia Dugan from the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at UConn Health. Check out photos from the event. In addition, this month CBER will host the Northeast PBIS Network Leadership Forum in May in Groton, Conn., as well as its eighth annual CBER Graduate Research Symposium at the Storrs campus. The symposium will feature an early-career researcher panel and a poster session featuring graduate students’ research.

The Measurement, Evaluation and Assessment program hosted Janet Clinton for a colloquium in March on the Storrs campus. Clinton, the director of the Centre for Program Evaluation and the International Teacher Education Effectiveness Research Hub at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, presented a talk titled “Teacher and Teaching Evaluation: International Landscapes, Strengths, and Future Directions.” The MEA program also hosted a Day of Research this month, featuring its graduate students. Check out photos from the event.

The School Psychology program hosted a presentation in April featuring Alan and Nadeen Kaufman, creators of a psychoeducational battery of assessments used in almost every school district across the U.S. See more photos from the event.

iPad Conference
The Neag School hosted the 7th Annual Teaching and Learning with iPads Conference on May 9, 2018 on the UConn Storrs Campus. Over 260 educators and technology enthusiasts gathered to learn about iPads, Chromebooks, and other cloud computing options. During the conference, educators shared tips they have learned using a wide variety of resources.

The seventh annual Teaching and Learning With iPads Conference was held this month on the Storrs campus. Click here to see photos from the event.

 

Faculty/Staff                               

Dorothea Anagnostopoulos was elected vice president of the AERA’s 2019-20 Council, Division K. She will serve a three-year term.

Ronald Beghetto spoke at the UConn President’s Series on Teaching Excellence on the Storrs campus last month. He also gave a TEDx-style talk at Manchester High School in April in Manchester, Conn.

Sandy Bell gave a talk at the Edgehill Community in Stamford, Conn., in partnership with the Neag School of Education Alumni Board, in May. The title of the talk was “This is Your Brain on Learning: Amazing Discoveries About the Role of Emotions, Gender, and How Your Brain Is Wired. ” Read more about Bell and her career in this month’s edition of “10 Questions.”

Reggie Blockett with his award.
Reginald Blockett proudly displays the award given to him by the UConn Rainbow Center. (Photo credit: Shawn Kornegay/NeagSchool)

Reginald Blockett published “Thinking with Queer of Color Critique: A Multidimensional Approach to Analyzing and Interpreting Data” for the 2018 issue of Critical Theory and Qualitative Data Analysis in Education. He was also recognized with the 2018 Distinguished Faculty Research award from the UConn Rainbow Center’s Lavender Graduation ceremony. This award honors a faculty member who has contributed research beneficial to understanding topics related to the individuals of diverse communities of gender identities, gender expressions and sexualities.

Scott Brown co-wrote, with Kimberly A. Lawless ’94 MA, ’96 Ph.D. and another colleague, “Timing Matters: Approaches for Measuring and Visualizing Behaviors of Timing and Spacing of Work in Self-Paced Online Teacher Professional Development Courses” for the April edition of the Journal of Learning Analytics.

Laura Burton and Jon Welty-Peachey 09 Ph.D. co-wrote with other colleagues “Exploring Servant Leadership, Needs Satisfaction, and Organizational Effectiveness in the Sport for Development and Peace Context” for the March issue of  the Journal of Sport Management. Burton also co-wrote Organizational Behavior in Sport (Human Kinetics, 2018.). In addition, she has been named a North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) Research Fellow.

Todd Campbell presented his NST Advancing Informal STEM Learning project/Natural Resources Conservation Association work at 2018 STEM for All Video Showcase’s Transforming the Education Landscape Conference in May.

Milagros Castillo-Montoya was recently recognized by Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) as a nominee for the University Innovation in Teaching Award. She presented her emerging scholar research “Engaging Students’ Diversity to Enhance Students’ Academic Learning” at the 2018 ACPA Conference in March in Houston. She also served as a discussant on “Experiences of Students of Color in Higher Education” at the same conference.

Sandra Chafouleas, left, with Alice Forrester from the Clifford Beers Clinic; both took part in a panel discussion co-hosted by the Neag School and the Glastonbury Exchange Club on "Addressing Childhood Trauma in School Settings last month.(Photo credit: Shawn Kornegay)
Sandra Chafouleas, left, with Alice Forrester from the Clifford Beers Clinic; both took part in a panel discussion co-hosted by the Neag School and the Glastonbury Exchange Club on “Addressing Childhood Trauma in School Settings last month.(Photo credit: Shawn Kornegay)

Sandra Chafouleas co-published “Assessing Behavioral Health Services: Introduction to a Special Issue of Research, Policy, and Practice” in the March issue of School Mental Health. She also co-published “A Systematic Review of Trauma Screening Measures for Children and Adolescents” with third-year doctoral student Taylor Koriakin and another UConn student for the March issue of School Psychology Quarterly. In addition, Chafouleas co-published “Accessing Behavioral Health Services: Introduction to a Special Issue of Research, Policy, and Practice” in School Mental Health in March.

Clewiston D. Challenger attended the Clemson University Men of Color National Summit in April, where he presented “Is This School a Fit? The Importance of College Adjustment, Institutional Attachment, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Buoyancy in Young Men of Color and How It Influences Their Motivation Toward Academics and Degree Attainment.” The summit is held every year in Greenville, S.C., and draws attendees from K-12 schools, private industry, state and local-level administration, and higher education for discussion of issues around men of color and education, mental health, career, racial identity development, culture, and self-empowerment.

Joseph Cooper presented research at the American Symposium hosted by the University of Central Florida in April in Orlando, Fla.

Shaun Dougherty published “The Effect of Career and Technical Education on Human Capital Accumulation: Causal Evidence from Massachusetts” for the March issue of Education Finance and Policy. He also published “How Measurement and Modeling of Attendance Matter to Assessing Dimensions of Inequality” in the March issue of Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk The Impact of Career and Technical Education on Students With Disabilitiesand co-published “” in the May issue of the Journal of Disability Policy Studies. He co-presented two sessions, titled “Teacher Accountability Reforms and the Supply of New Teachers” and “The Causal Impact of Attending a Career and Technical High School on Student Achievement, High-School Graduation, and College Enrollment,” at the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness’ Spring 2018 Conference in March in Washington, D.C.

Preston Green, second from left, joins fellow panelists during a discussion at the 2018 Education Writers Association National Seminar. (Photo Credit: Stefanie Dion Jones/Neag School)
Professor Preston Green, second from left, joins fellow panelists during a discussion about school choice at the 2018 Education Writers Association National Seminar, held in Los Angeles in May. (Photo Credit: Stefanie Dion Jones/Neag School)

Preston Green served as a panelist at the national seminar for the Education Writers Association, during a discussion on school choice held this month in Los Angeles.

Robin Grenier is a co-principal investigator for the 2018-19 Whiting Public Engagement Seed Grant for a project titled “Museums and Civic Discourse: History, Current Practice, and Future Prospects.” She will be partnering with the Green House Studios at UConn, in addition to working with UConn and external faculty researchers. The award is from the Whiting Public Engagement Fellowship, which seeks to champion the vital role of the humanities in enriching public life.

Elizabeth Howard and Thomas Levine co-wrote a book chapter in What Teachers Need to Know About Language (Center for Applied Linguistics, 2018), which will be released in July.

James Kaufman published “Creativity as a Stepping Stone Toward a Brighter Future” for the April issue of Journal of Intelligence.

Catherine Little receives her Honors Advisor of the Year award from Jennifer Lease Butts, director of UConn’s Honors Program.
Catherine Little receives her Honors Advisor of the Year award from Jennifer Lease Butts, assistant vice provost for Enrichment Programs and director of UConn’s Honors Program. (Photo Credit: Roger Castonguay/UConn)

Catherine Little was selected as the Goodstein/Langer Honors Advisor of the Year for 2018, for her tireless work on behalf of Honors students in the Neag School. She was honored at the Honors Medals Ceremony in April on the Storrs campus.

Allison Lombardi and Shaun Dougherty co-wrote with graduate student Jessica Monahan “Students With Intellectual Disabilities and Career and Technical Education Opportunities: A Systematic Literature Review” for the April issue of Journal of Disability Policy Studies.

Joseph Renzulli co-published, with two colleagues from the University of Oslo, “Student Teachers’ Practice and Experience With Differentiated Instruction for Students With Higher Learning Potential” in the April issue of Teaching and Teacher Education. In addition, he gave the keynote presentation at the 2018 Wallace Research Symposium on Talent Development in May. The symposium is co-hosted by the University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center, the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth, and Vanderbilt University Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth. Sally Reis also participated in the symposium, as a discussant following Renzulli’s presentation.

George Sugai presented on the importance of schools supporting the success of all students beyond academics at the Benjamin Cluff Jr. Annual Lecture at Brigham Young University in Salt Lake City in March.

Jennie Weiner and Sarah L. Woulfin co-published “Sailing Across the Divide: Challenges to the Transfer of Teacher Leadership” in the April issue of the Journal of Research on Leadership Education.

 

Students

Student leaders from LID gather at the Husky statue.
Student leaders from L.I.D. gather at the Husky statue after leading a tour around the UConn campus during the Future Educators Conference. (Photo Credit: Frank Zapulla/Neag School)

Teacher Education’s Leadership In Diversity (L.I.D.) student group held its third annual Reimagining Education Conference on the Storrs campus in March. The event was organized by L.I.D., a student-led organization that aims to help maintain success in students of color as they pursue careers in the field of education. Alumni Justis Lopez ’14 (ED), ’15 MA and Orlando Valentin Jr. ’15 (ED), ’16 MA presented at the event. See photos from the event. In addition, L.I.D. hosted its annual “Future Educators Conference” on the Storrs campus in April. Visitors from four Connecticut schools, including East Hartford High School, Bulkeley High School, Conard High School, and Hall High School, attended to gain insights from current students and undergraduate admissions. To see photos from the event, click here.

Neag School student groups UConn Husky Sport and Leadership in Diversity (L.I.D.) combined efforts to win the annual UConn Foundation’s Ignite Campaign, with 308 donations, raising $11,608 and an additional $5,000 for the first-place prize.

Nneka Arinze, doctoral student, presents at the UConn Women’s Advance Conference in Hartford, Conn., in May. (Photo credit: Stefanie Dion Jones/Neag School)
Nneka Arinze, doctoral student, presents at the UConn Women’s Advance Conference in Hartford, Conn., in May. (Photo credit: Stefanie Dion Jones/Neag School)

Students in the sport management program hosted a “Beyond the Field” event titled “Breaking Glass: How Women Fearlessly Navigate the Sport Industry,” featuring a panel of female leaders in sport, including Mary Ellen Gillespie, director of athletics with the University of Hartford; Beth Goetz, chief operating officer and senior woman administrator with UConn Athletics; and Alaina DiGiorgio, director of diversity and inclusion at the College of Our Lady of the Elms. The event took place on the Storrs campus in April.

Several Neag School student athletes recognized at 2018 UConn Husky Awards. Derek Pratt ’18 (ED) a player on the UConn men’s ice hockey was awarded the Kinsmen Award. Faith McCarthy ’17 (ED), and current master’s student and player on the UConn women’s soccer team, was awarded the Kinsmen Award. Nina Klein ’18 MS, a player for UConn women’s field hockey was awarded Performance of the Year. The event was hosted by Batouly Camara ’18 (ED), a player for UConn women’s basketball.

Julia Anderson, a HESA student, as well as doctoral students Ashley Robinson and Nneka Arinze, are presenting at the UConn Women’s Advance Conference in Hartford this month.

Emily Anna Cipriano, student in the IB/M program, will be serving as a teacher come fall at Sunset Ridge Middle School in East Hartford, Conn.

Vanessa Kingsbury (center) is photographed with Chrystal Smith (left), co-investigator Rebecca Campbell.
Vanessa Kingsbury (center) presented at UConn’s Undergraduate Student Research Conference last month; she is pictured with Chrystal Smith (left) and co-investigator Rebecca Campbell. (Photo courtesy of Rebecca Campbell)

Vanessa Kingsbury presented “The Impact of Fit Cultivated by Language on the Degree Retention and Attainment of Women and Underrepresented Minorities in Undergraduate English Programs” at UConn’s Undergraduate Student Research Conference in April on the Storrs campus. Kingsbury is a work-study student on Dean Kersaint’s National Science Foundation grant titled “The Effects of Social Capital and Cultural Models on the Retention and Degree Attainment of Women and Minority Engineering Undergraduates.” Her co-investigator was Rebecca Campbell.

William Estepar-Garcia, an educational psychology doctoral student, received the AERA Survey Research in Education SIG award for cutting-edge research using person mean-centering. He was recognized at the AERA Annual Meeting in New York, N.Y., in April.

Catherine Friar, a student enrolled in James Kaufman’s Introduction to Creativity course, created a website to host a project for the class, where she showcased “Gen2U,” a photojournalism piece about second-generation students at various universities.

Blair Izard, a curriculum and instruction doctoral student, co-presented with her Universitas 21 FINE team on “International Networking and Collaboration” on the Storrs campus in April.

Nina Klein, a graduate student in the sport management program, was named the 2017 Zag Field Hockey Division I National Scholar Athlete by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. Read more. She will begin a new job as an assistant coach for women’s field hockey at Quinnipiac University after graduation.

Daphnee Laguerre, a HESA student, was recognized for her role as an advisor as an Individual of the Month for March by the National Residence Hall Honorary.

Alexandra Lamb, an educational leadership doctoral student, co-wrote with Jennie Weiner a paper titled “Extending the Research on 1:1 Technology Integration in Middle Schools: A Call for Using Institutional Theory in Educational Technology Research” for the April issue of Middle Grades Review. They also co-published “Institutional Factors in iPad Rollout, Adoption, and Implementation: Isomorphism and the Case of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s iPad Initiative” in the International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science, and Technology.

Juanyi Li, an elementary education major, was recognized in April on the Storrs campus by UConn’s First Year Programs and Learning Communities with the John T. Szarlan Memorial Student Mentors award, which was sponsored by the University’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

Reese Maccario gathers with her faculty advisor Joseph Cooper.
Reese Maccario gathers with her faculty advisor, Joseph Cooper, after the panel at the American Symposium. (Photo courtesy of Sport Management Program)

Reese Maccario, a player on the UConn women’s ice hockey team and a sport management undergraduate student, participated on a student-athlete panel at the American Symposium hosted by the University of Central Florida in April in Orlando, Fla.

Jessica Monahan, a doctoral student and CBER graduate assistant, is a recipient of the the Lisa Pappanikou Glidden Scholarship Fund.

Tatianna Montalvo , a sport management undergraduate student, was selected to participate in the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere (FLAME) program this June in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Sean Palzere, a student in the IB/M program, appeared in two installments of a UConn Today video series, in which UConn seniors give advice to incoming students. Check out the “Time Management” and “Study Spots” videos to see Palzere.

Michael Reid Jr. received a 2018 Summer Undergraduate Research Fund award.

Mitchell Simmons ’18 (ED) will begin as the director of basketball operations for women’s basketball at Boston University after graduation.

Clarissa Tan, an secondary English education student, received a Spring 2018 UConn IDEA Grant for her project “The Asian-American Educational Experience.” Tan will conduct a qualitative study to examine the Asian-American educational experience, with attention to the influence of culture, identity, and assumptions, with the goal of improving upon the U.S. education system and bringing this student population into conversations regarding educational policy.

Emily Tarconish, a doctoral student in educational psychology, is a recipient of the J. Raymond and Augusta H. Gerberich Fellowship Fund and the Lisa Pappanikou Glidden Scholarship Fund.

Janet Vanlone presents research in San Diego (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Freeman)
Doctoral student Janet Vanlone presented her research at the Association for Positive Behavior and Support’s national conference in March in San Diego. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Freeman)

Janet Vanlone, a special education doctoral student, presented her research on supporting preservice teacher classroom management at the Association for Positive Behavior and Support’s national conference in March in San Diego.

Patricia Virella, a first-year educational leadership graduate student, has been selected to serve on the University Council for Educational Administration’s Graduate Student Council for a two-year term. She is one of eight council members.

 

Alumni      

Anthony Buono ’08 ELP has been appointed assistant superintendent of Westport (Conn.) Public Schools. He most recently served as assistant superintendent of Brandford (Conn.) Public Schools.

Cohen receives outstanding grad student award in sport administration (Photo courtesy of Sport Management Program)
Emma Cohen ’17 (ED) received the Outstanding Graduate Student in Sport Administration Award from the University of Louisville’s sport administration program. (Photo courtesy of Sport Management Program)

Emma Cohen ’17 (ED) received the Outstanding Graduate Student in Sport Administration Award from the University of Louisville’s sport administration program.

Emily Fiagbedzi ’17 (ED) presented two workshops at the 2018 National IMPACT Conference at the University of Dayton in Ohio in March.

Jaimie (Winslow) Fisco ’04 (ED), ’05 MA was appointed assistant principal of K.T. Murphy Elementary School for Stamford (Conn.) Public Schools. Fisco has held the role of administrative intern at Toquam Elementary School for the past year.

Liana Jorgensen ’05 MA, ’10 6th Year has been chosen as the new principal at Sage Park Middle School in Windsor, Conn. She currently serves as the school’s vice principal. Jorgensen has been an educator in Windsor for the past 16 years, first as a fifth-grade teacher at Poquonock Elementary School, then as assistant principal at Clover Street School before moving to her current post in 2009.

Kern presents at a national conference (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Freeman)
Laura Kern ’11 MA, ’17 Ph.D. presents at the Association for Positive Behavior and Support’s national conference in March in San Diego. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Freeman)

Laura Kern ’11 MA, ’17 Ph.D. gave a presentation titled “Policy Guidelines from U.S. Department of Education” at the Association for Positive Behavior and Support’s national conference in March in San Diego.

Jasmine Lister ’16 MA was named assistant coach for the UConn women’s basketball program. Lister was most recently an assistant at DePaul University.

Justis Lopez ’14 (ED), ’15 MA was recognized with the annual Rising Star Award from the New England Educational Opportunity Association. Lopez received the award at the organization’s annual conference in April in Stowe, Vt. 

Kathleen Miner ’01 6th Year has been selected as the principal of Manchester High School in Manchester, Conn. She previously had served as the interim principal.

Karissa Niehoff   ’10 Ed.D. has been selected as the executive director of the National Federtion of State High School Associations (NFHS). She most recently served as the executive director of the Connecticut Association of Schools-Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CAS-CIAC).

Jim Penders ’94 (CLAS), ’98 MA, head coach for UConn baseball, achieved his 500th win with a 4-0 victory in March at Boston College.

Michelle Puhlick ’01 6th Year is director of strategic initiatives at the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut.

Nellie Schafer ’16 MS, manager of EDLR’s digital media internship team, was named director of basketball operations at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. As part of this year’s Neag School Undergraduate Commencement ceremony, Schafer also gave remarks addressing the Class of 2018.

Following her remarks to the Class of 2018, sport management alum Nellie Schafer ’16 MS captured a selfie with the Class of 2018. (Photo courtesy of Nellie Schafer)
Following her remarks to the Class of 2018, sport management alum Nellie Schafer ’16 MS captured a selfie with the Class of 2018. (Photo courtesy of Nellie Schafer)

Jeff Wihbey ’16 ELP was recently appointed superintendent of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS). Wihbey had served as assistant superintendent of CTECS for three years since late January 2014. He came to CTECS with a distinguished career in the field of public education, serving as principal, assistant principal, and department head at various schools throughout Connecticut and began his career in education as a social studies teacher in Bristol, Conn.

In Memoriam

Ray Neag
In 1999, the University of Connecticut’s School of Education was renamed to honor Ray Neag, a visionary and savvy businessman who believed investing in education would yield the greatest of returns: a brighter future for our children.

Florence A. Apostalon-Davis ’54
Robert J. Barba ’77
Lee S. Barbach ’74
David G. Carter
Matthew J. Clancy Jr. ’72
Kenneth R. Cullum ’60
Dorothy B. DeSomma ’61
Nicholas D. DeVito ’79
Elaine M. (Marcus) Grossman ’64
Robert V. McCarthy ’57
George Mitchell ’44
Raymond Neag ’56 (CLAS)
Patricia R. Nute ’55
Robert H. Olson ’72
Leo Pinsky ’50
Lori R. Roffwarg ’73
William J. Sanders Jr. ’74
Thomas M. Siemiatkoski ’57
Rose M. Viti ’61
William J. Walsh ’50
Clyde Washburne ’57

 

10 Questions With Sandy Bell, Expert in Adult Learning

In our recurring 10 Questions series, the Neag School catches up with students, alumni, faculty, and others throughout the year to offer a glimpse into their Neag School experience and their current career, research, or community activities. 

Sandy Bell is an associate professor and program coordinator for the Neag School’s adult learning concentration in  the Learning, Leadership, and Education Policy program. Bell also works as a consultant to support the development of agriculture extension education programs.

Bell received her bachelor’s in science and education from Colgate University in 1978, her master’s of physical therapy from Boston University in 1981, and her doctorate in adult and vocational education from the Neag School in 1994. She joined the Neag School’s educational leadership faculty in 2000 and was appointed as program coordinator of the adult learning program in 2006. Prior to this, she worked as a physical therapist for 15 years.

After nearly two decades at the Neag School, Bell will be retiring this month.

Sandy Bell, associate professor and program coordinator for the Neag School’s adult learning concentration in the Learning, Leadership, and Education Policy program, also works as a consultant to support the development of agriculture extension education programs.
Sandy Bell, associate professor and program coordinator for the Neag School’s adult learning concentration in the Learning, Leadership, and Education Policy program, also works as a consultant to support the development of agriculture extension education programs.

 

After about 18 years in the Neag School’s Department of Education Leadership, you are retiring. What are your plans? I have a 16-day trip to Italy planned, so I am making that my celebration and transition into retirement. On a long-term basis, my husband has been patiently waiting for me to join him in retirement, so we’re eager to move onto the next phase of our lives together. I am also continuing my consulting activities, particularly in the area of agriculture extension education. There’s still a lot to be done in that area, and I’ve been moving into consulting on grant-funded projects; that’s paved the way for me to continue more of that work on an independent basis.

What did you do prior to earning your Ph D. in adult learning, and how did you make the transition into your current role? I was a physical therapist for 15 years, and for the last five of those years, I worked with individuals who had work-related injuries. We started to work a lot with businesses and industries to help them figure out ways to prevent injuries, and I realized that a great deal of the success depended on the workers — as well as their employers — learning new techniques and safety strategies. I became fascinated with the learning aspect, both at an organizational level and individual worker level, so I thought I could benefit from a more structured way of learning about learning. I hadn’t thought about a change in my career when I started my doctorate, but doors opened for me to transition into academics once I completed my degree.

What is your favorite piece of advice that you have received during your career? I adopted something my mentor and advisor told me, which is that doing proceeds understanding. He encouraged me to embrace the idea that I did not have to ‘book learn’ everything and then apply it. He told me, “You can keep doing that, but you’ll never do.” The brain works in ways where reading and talking are only a fraction of what happens when you actually try the thing you’re learning about. A lot of times, I’ll see this in students — they gobble up and surround themselves with all the things other people have learned about a topic, yet they are hesitant to dip their foot into the pool or try to swim. With of my doctoral advisees, I say, ‘Just try it; dive in and start swimming.’ … which is more consistent with the way our brains work.

“For me, the question is not why lifelong learning is important — it will happen whether an individual thinks it is important or not. The question is: What do you do with your learning as you age? Can you share it to benefit others? Can you make positive changes with it? Can you use it to challenge your own beliefs and behaviors that may be keeping you from fully engaging in and enjoying life?”

— Associate Professor Sandy Bell

Why are you passionate about the field of adult learning? Adult learning plays a role in everything adults do, everything they are. The discipline focuses on the ways adults engage in learning, and not the education of adults, which connotes power differences between learners and educators. This distinction was very important for the founder of our adult learning program, Dr. Barry Sheckley, back in the early 1980s. The field has a broad reach. It thrives on the contributions of learners, practitioners, and scholars who have diverse backgrounds, knowledge, skills, and interests. It is important because no other discipline addresses how adults learn and how to best support their learning in all aspects of their lives.

Your research focuses on applying adult learning principles in the fields of agriculture extension education, conservation, and environmental protection. Where did that focus originate? In my very first grant-funded project, I collaborated with colleagues in our program and in the plant sciences department to help dairy farmers research projects on their farms. I realized early on that [the application of adult learning principles] was a big void in extension education and the field of agriculture education. … For me personally, it was extremely exciting and challenging academically. Being personally passionate about what you’re doing helps promote the research.

How can learning occur in adulthood in a way that changes perspectives or promotes more effective teaching and learning practices? Most people’s mindsets are based on the experiences they’ve had. Theoretically, one of the best ways to help people alter their mindset is to have them experience new things. The first step is for them to appreciate what their experience base is and realize that their reality is not the same as everyone else’s. I find that process has to happen before any technical information is shared. I think that’s where a lot of facilitators and educators miss opportunities to maximize learning. Often, they start by sharing conceptual information, so they’re just addressing that abstract, nonemotional part of people. It’s not until folks open up emotionally that they can fully learn.

You have worked with students across a range of ages. Do you see differences in how master’s degree students and older students approach learning? Some of the younger master’s students who have been in traditional academic settings since they were 4 years old may not have a lot of experience learning in ways that are not gradable, where they need to be responsible for their learning and set their own goals. Often, younger master’s students from science and technical fields don’t have experiences with learning activities focused on self-development compared to those in the humanities. I may work with them in ways that help them learn to self-regulate their own learning.

Sandy Bell at Alumni Awards Celebration in 2016
“Lifelong learning is part of being human. The brain is wired to learn,” says Sandy Bell, associate professor in the Neag School of Education. After nearly two decades in the Neag School, she will be retiring this month.

Whereas older students, particularly students pursuing doctorate degrees, are more independent, and usually have a lot of nonacademic life learning experiences that aren’t controlled by a teacher. They know what it’s like to fail and to pick themselves back up and figure out what went wrong. Those folks already have naturally developed learning self-regulation skills, so I can work with them in ways that are more advanced, which might help them appreciate some of their underlying habits or assumptions about their own learning.

What research are you most proud of? I worked with University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension educators on a three-year professional development project funded by Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education [part of a larger, nationwide effort to invest in research and education that will advance American agriculture]. They gave me lots of latitude in helping their educators become more proficient in facilitating the type of learning they needed. It’s most rewarding for me because of the longevity of this work. The indicators of having an impact, and the ripple effect of it having evidence even years later where folks are still using the strategies and resources that we developed, is very rewarding.

How has your career shaped you as a lifelong learner — and what advice would you have for people to remain lifelong learners? I work in an atmosphere where I need to practice what I preach, and I try to look at things that I see as mistakes as opportunities for learning. I also need to be more patient with myself. I will extend this to other things that I don’t think I can do and will give them a try. I used to believe I couldn’t learn another language, but I’ve been taking an Italian course, and it’s been an eye-opener. I never appreciated how restrictive [that belief] was. I’m really glad that I’ve had that awakening, to see the power of a negative assumption about learning, and to challenge that assumption and learn things I never thought I could.

My advice would be to keep getting yourself into new situations where you are likely to be surprised. Our brains respond to novelty by making new neural connections. New and surprising things make us pay attention and question our assumptions. Over the past few decades, neuroscience researchers have accumulated lots of evidence showing that healthy aging adult brains have lots of capacity for plasticity — to make new neurons and neural connections. On the other hand, as we age, the ceiling in terms of brain capacity drops — we are less efficient in making new connections, and it gets harder to make new long-lasting memories. Lifelong learning is part of being human. The brain is wired to learn. Continued learning will keep that ceiling up as high as possible. For me, the question is not why lifelong learning is important — it will happen whether an individual thinks it is important or not. The question is: What do you do with your learning as you age? Can you share it to benefit others? Can you make positive changes with it? Can you use it to challenge your own beliefs and behaviors that may be keeping you from fully engaging in and enjoying life?

What will you miss most about working in academia? By far, the students. I feel lucky and privileged to have had the opportunity to work with them and to learn from them. I’ve learned about life from them. I’m amazed at some of the things that they’ve managed to deal with in their own lives, and I have a great deal of respect. Really some of the most important relationships in my life have been the ones I’ve developed with students.

Read other installments of the 10 Questions series here.

Neag School Class of 2018 Celebrates Commencement

Class of 2018 grad with cap at Undergraduate Commencement ceremony (Photo credit: Frank Zappulla/Neag School)
The Neag School Class of 2018 undergraduates celebrated at a ceremony held in Jorgensen on May 6, 2018. (Photo credit: Frank Zappulla/Neag School)

The Neag School of Education’s Class of 2018 graduates and their guests joined faculty, staff, and administrators this past weekend in celebration of Commencement Weekend on the UConn Storrs campus.

Master’s and sixth-year graduates from the Neag School celebrated Commencement at a reception on the Student Union patio on Saturday, May 5, 2018. (Photo credit: Frank Zappulla/Neag School)
Master’s and sixth-year graduates from the Neag School celebrated Commencement at a reception on the Student Union patio on Saturday, May 5, 2018. (Photo credit: Frank Zappulla/Neag School)

The weekend kicked off on Saturday, May 5, with a celebratory reception honoring Neag School master’s and sixth-year graduates, hosted on the Student Union patio prior to their Commencement ceremony at Gampel Pavilion. Check out photos from the Neag School master’s and sixth-year reception.

On Sunday, May 6, UConn huskies Jonathans XIII and XIV joined the 150 Neag School undergraduate students in their processional to the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. At the Undergraduate Commencement ceremony, a group of elementary school students from Neag School partner Southeast Elementary in Mansfield, Conn., performed the national anthem. Later in the program, they were joined by the Neag School’s Class of 2018 music education majors, who performed a special tribute song dedicated to the late Ray Neag, the benefactor after whom the Neag School is named. Neag, a UConn alum from the Class of 1956, passed away at age 86 this past month.

See photos from the 2018 Neag School Undergraduate Commencement procession, ceremony, reception, and photo boothFind photos from the Neag School master’s and sixth-year celebration here. 

Special education advocate and UConn Law alum Howard Klebanoff ’62 JD delivered the keynote address. Klebanoff, known as one of Connecticut’s most distinguished attorneys specializing in special education law, spent more than 40 years representing families of children with special needs before retiring from active practice in 2017.

“As you pursue your career, remember to seek solutions,” Klebanoff told to the Class of 2018. “Do not forget the importance of the synergistic relationships you can have with your colleagues, which often lead to important help and resources. Remember that learning never stops. Remember to disregard the naysayers, who say, ‘You can’t.’”

Klebanoff is also known at UConn for the Klebanoff Institute, which was established in 1997 in honor of his work in special education. The Institute’s mission is to improve the quality of educational and other services to children and adults with disabilities and their families by conducting research, disseminating information, and directing training activities aimed at overcoming legal, ethical, and systemic impediments to such services.

Sport management alumna Nellie Schafer ’16 MS, now director of basketball operations for women’s basketball at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., returned to campus to share with the Class of 2018 18 pieces of advice for their lives after graduation.

Following her remarks to the Class of 2018, sport management alum Nellie Schafer ’16 MS captured a selfie with the Class of 2018. (Photo courtesy of Nellie Schafer)
Following her remarks to the Class of 2018, sport management alum Nellie Schafer ’16 MS captured a selfie with the Class of 2018. (Photo courtesy of Nellie Schafer)

Among her words of wisdom, Schafer advised graduates to travel, to embrace diversity, to use podcasts as a way to learn about their profession, and not to fear failure. “Say ‘yes,’” she said. “Saying ‘yes’ starts things. Saying ‘yes’ is how we grow. Saying ‘yes’ fuels knowledge.”

In addition, the ceremony featured a special celebratory tribute to Ray Neag. Richard L. Schwab, former dean of the Neag School and Neag Endowed Professor of Educational Leadership, honored Neag’s memory by sharing with the audience remarks about Ray and his wife, Carole, with whom Schwab became close over the past two decades. Schwab spoke about the Neags’ legacy, including their extraordinary support of the Neag School of Education, which is named in their honor.

“Ray was a visionary and highly intelligent in many common-sense ways,” said Schwab as a slideshow of images featuring Ray and Carole Neag were displayed behind him on the stage. “While the consummate nice guy, he was also a competitor and believed in doing one’s best. When he invested in the Neag School, he was investing in our vision to become one of the top ranked schools in the nation. He saw education as the key to a just and vibrant America.”

The Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony also showcased two videos — the first featuring alumni, students, and faculty from across the Neag School— and a second videotoward the end of the ceremony in which graduating seniors gave a glimpse into the activities and experiences they found most rewarding during their time at UConn.

Access archived video of each ceremony at s.uconn.edu/neagstream.  

 

Klebanoff Institute, Neag School Co-Host 2018 Special Education Summit

David Desroches leads panel discussion at 2018 Special Education Summit
David Desroches of WNPR leads the morning panel discussion at the Neag School’s 2018 Special Education Summit, held in Hartford, Conn., in April 2018. (Photo Credit: Shawn Kornegay/Neag School)

The Neag School of Education hosted more than 150 special education directors, special education advocates, service providers, attorneys, parents, teachers, and school administrators from across the state this past week for its second annual Special Education in Connecticut Summit.

The daylong event, hosted at the UConn School of Law campus in Hartford, Conn., centered on the theme of promoting equity for marginalized students with disabilities, with the intention of “provid[ing] an opportunity for discussion and learning among educators, families and community members, policymakers, and researchers,” said Joseph Madaus, associate dean for academic affairs and a professor of special education at the Neag School.

Renee Bradley, deputy division director at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, delivered the keynote address, titled “Equal Access to Opportunity — Do We Have What It Takes?”

“We have to realize that education is no longer sacrosanct to many people.”

— Howard Klebanoff ’62 JD

Eben McKnight and Jennifer Freeman as panelists at 2018 Special Education Summit
Eben McKnight, State Education Resource Center consultant, and Jennifer Freeman, Neag School assistant professor, were among the panelists taking part in an afternoon discussion about promoting positive behavior among students with disabilities during the 2018 Special Education Summit. (Photo Credit: Frank Zappulla/Neag School)

In addition to Bradley’s address, an array of school administrators, child and parent advocates, faculty experts, and attorneys served as panelists during a series of discussions about promoting positive school environments, high-quality academic outcomes, and positive behavior among students with disabilities. WNPR’s David Desroches moderated the morning panel, leading a lively discussion that involved panelists and members of the audience and touched on such topics as teacher bias, student discipline, school climate, private special education schools, parental rights, and more. Neag School professors Michael Coyne and Brandi Simonsen facilitated the afternoon breakout sessions.

The Klebanoff Institute served as the summit’s co-sponsor for the second consecutive year; the Institute was established at the University of Connecticut in 1997 in honor of Howard Klebanoff, a 1962 UConn School of Law graduate with more than four decades of experience as a special education law attorney in the state of Connecticut. Its mission is to improve the quality of educational and other services to children and adults with disabilities and their families by conducting research, disseminating information, and conducting training activities aimed at overcoming legal, ethical, and systemic impediments to such services.

Howard Klebanoff at the 2018 Special Ed Summit
“We have to realize that education is no longer sacrosanct to many people,” said Howard Klebanoff ’62 JD during his closing remarks at this year’s Special Education Summit. The Klebanoff Institute co-sponsored the summit for the second consecutive year. (Photo Credit: Frank Zappulla/Neag School)

“We have to realize that education is no longer sacrosanct to many people. The cutbacks to funding are staggering, on both federal and state levels,” said Klebanoff during his closing remarks. “Educators in particular have to be aware of this and to find ways to collaborate … to find solutions to lack of staff, lack of money; to be flexible and be willing to change the curriculum sometimes; to come up with some innovative ways of providing services — because right now the money isn’t going to be forthcoming.”

Klebanoff went on to speak about the need for open dialogue between parents, school districts, and educators in addressing the needs of special education students. “If we leave today with one commitment,” he said, “it’s that we will try to encourage flexibility, openness, candidness, and transparency.”

The inaugural summit, held in May 2017, was inspired by the landmark Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding v. Rell court ruling.

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Learn more about the summit, including all co-hosts, panelists, and moderators, at s.uconn.edu/summit2018.