I am sincerely proud of the accomplishments of the students, faculty and staff of the College of Education. Together we continue to advance the quality of education in our community through initiatives such as a new partnership with Presbyterian Day School (PDS) to create the Martin Institute for Teaching Excellence, the establishment of the Southwest Tennessee Rural Education Cooperative, offering eight programs online for greater access and continuing to strengthen our nationally ranked programs.

As we prepare to celebrate the University of Memphis Centennial you can look forward to campus and alumni chapter updates. If you aren't a member already I hope you will join our Chapter which is pleased to welcome new President Melinda Edwards (BSEd '74, MPA '75) and Coordinator Wendy Sumner-Winter (MFA ’10). Our next meeting is January 25th for details please contact Wendy at (901) 678-1562
I hope you’ll enjoy these few highlights of the College of Education. I also invite you to share your thoughts and accomplishments with us at COE@memphis.edu

Dr. Donald I. Wagner 
Dean

In this Issue

College News Alumni News
College News

College of Education Faculty Celebrating Milestones

  • 40 years, Patricia J. Murrell, Center for the Study of Higher Education
  • 35 years, Lawrence E Liles, Health and Sport Sciences
  • 35 years, Ernest A Rakow, College of Education
  • 35 years, Norman D Rice, Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research
  • 25 years, William L Akey, Leadership
  • 25 years, Nancy A Harris, Campus School
  • 25 years, Susan Magun-Jackson, Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research
  • 15 years, Carol J Cordeau-Young, Lipman School
  • 15 years, Deborah Lowther, Instruction and Curriculum Leadership
  • 10 years, Yeh Hsueh, Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research
  • 10 years, Jan E Kidder, Lipman School
  • 10 years, Ernest R Shadow, Campus School

    • $3.5 Million Grant to the COE
    The Center for Research in Educational Policy (CREP), a research unit within the College of Education at the University of Memphis, is partnered with The Smithsonian Institution’s National Science Resources Center (NSRC). This vital project, LASER (Leadership Assistance for Science Education Reform), will involve 75,000 rural and urban students in grades one through eight and 3,000 teachers and educational leaders in three locations – Indiana, North Carolina, and Houston. CREP has been selected to conduct an evaluation of this large, multi-site initiative aimed at helping state, district, and school leadership teams implement and sustain high-quality science education for elementary and middle school students. Read more

    Health and Sports Sciences Highlights

  • Check out this video featuring the work of Dr. Ruth Williams, Assistant Professor Health Sport Sciences

  • Funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, Drs. Barbara McClanahan and Shelly Stockton (Health and Sport Sciences) initiated and led local efforts to begin building healthier communities by bringing together interdisciplinary professionals to share expertise and ideas. Over 175 architects, builders, developers, engineers, planners, bankers, realtors, health, policy and governmental professionals recently gathered at the University Center to identify ways to create active community environments. The half-day event “Great Streets – Healthy Communities” was hosted by the grant (Partnership for Active Community Environments (PACE) and the Urban Land Institute - Memphis (ULI). Two keynote speakers, Rick Hall and Scott Polikov shared information related to traffic, planning and development issues (both residential and commercial) and their potential influence on community health. Following their presentations, attendees were able to dialogue with professionals from other disciplines to share perspectives, concerns and roadblocks for initiating healthy building practices.

  • Rick Bloomer and the staff within the Cardiorespiratory/Metabolic Lab have been involved in research pertaining to the metabolic and cardiovascular effects of the Biblically-based Daniel Fast. While primarily used as a spiritual tool by Christians entering into a focused period of fasting and prayer, the Daniel Fast has received considerable attention in recent years due to the multiple health related benefits noted by many individuals partaking in the fast. Although anecdotal, the findings sparked the interest of Bloomer and co-workers, leading to the design of the first scientific investigations focused on this form of fasting. In the initial study of the Daniel Fast, investigators noted impressive findings related to improved biomarkers of cardiovascular and metabolic health—specifically, reductions in cholesterol, insulin, and markers of inflammation, as well as decreased blood pressure. These findings were recently published in the journal Lipids in Health and Disease. Positive findings of improved blood antioxidant defense have also been noted. Another investigation of the Daniel Fast is currently underway, which seeks to extend prior findings.
    • Instruction and Curriculum Leadership Highlights

  • Dr. Lee Allen, associate professor, presented “Online Learning in 7-12 Education: A Statewide Evaluation” at the Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE) E-Learn International conference in Orlando.

  • Dr. Sally Blake, associate professor, presented “International Investigation of Inquiry Interactions of Young Children” and “Student Perceptions of Problem-based Learning Experiences (PBL)” at the Mid-South Educational Research Association conference in Mobile, Ala.

  • Dr. Laura Casey, assistant professor, presented “Using the GBG and Including the Teacher, too” at the Tennessee Applied Behavior Analysis conference in Nashville.

  • Bonnie Cummings, instructor, presented “Soaring into New Heights Basic and Advanced Aerospace” at the West Tennessee Aerospace Workshop in Huntsville, Ala.

  • Dr. Allison Henward, assistant professor, presented “Children, Popular Culture and Preschools” at the Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Education conference in Dalton, Ga.

  • Dr. Allen Seed, associate professor, presented “Middle School Job-alike” at the Tennessee Association of Colleges for Teacher Education conference in Nashville.

  • At the 2010 International Convention of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology in Los Angeles, Dr. Trey Martindale received the AECT Presidential Award for distinguished service to the profession. Dr. Martindale was recognized for his tenure of five years on the AECT Board of Directors, and for serving as liaison for AECT's partnership with the New Media Consortium, a large organization of universities studying emerging technologies.
    • Counseling, Educational Psychology & Research Highlights

    CEPR students developed the Active Minds Student Association which fights stigma associated with mental health issues. In its first year this group was recognized in Washington DC with a national award for achievement in campus programming by Representative Steve Cohen. The MS in Educational Psychology was the first program in CEPR to go totally online. Three courses were offered online in the Fall Semester. CEPR faculty provided training statewide to the Tennessee State Office of Vocational Rehabilitation this summer. Topics included "Ethics and Diversity" and "Vocational Implications of Psychiatric Disorders". The Memphis STEPS Suicide Prevention Program which is a collaborative effort between CEPR, Psychology, Student Affairs Programs won Governor Bredesen's Award for Excellence in Suicide Prevention Work

    Alumni News
    Freda G. Williams, Ed.D. newly elected Memphis City School Board President
     
    The College of Education is proud to have Dr. Freda Williams ’97, newly elected Memphis City School Board President as an alumna. A career educator she began as a member of the Teacher Corps, a federal program that matched education students with schools for site-based internships. After teaching 3rd grade in Nashville, she returned to Memphis and briefly worked in retail sales management. However it wasn’t long before she had the epiphany that she “didn’t come to this earth to sell hats. I am a teacher.” Freda returned to the classroom, this time as a kindergarten teacher. Later while teaching elementary school she earned her University of Memphis degrees: Master of Education Curriculum and Instruction and Doctor of Education, Educational Psychology and Research. She transitioned to administrative roles that included writing the district’s first technology integration design. An adjunct professor at Walden University, Freda has also taught at the University of Memphis, LeMoyne-Owen and Christian Brothers University. In December of 2007 she made the transition from retiree to the board, filling an unexpired position. Freda believes that her background is a perfect fit for the board due to her work as an educator, deep understanding of the K12 process and her love of public education. She is pleased that her colleagues have the level of confidence in her to elect her president with the current national focus on Memphis City Schools due to the $90 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the $68.5 million in federal Race to the Top stimulus funds. “We are fortunate to have both in the budget” Freda states as they complement each other with some overlap providing a comprehensive resource the district has at its disposal to correct the designated problems. The College of Education is a critical partner of the Memphis City Schools for success, that will only grow and strengthen as we continue to partner on grants for the betterment of education in Memphis.

    College of Education Classnotes

  • Dr. James Selbe ’95 was invited to the White House to participate in the 1st Community College Summit. He is the President of Hopkinsville Community College (Kentucky).

  • Rita White was honored at the White House in October as one of the 62 National Distinguished Principals. She is the Principal at Egypt Elementary School in Memphis, Tennessee.

  • Dr. Tim Setterlund ’89 has been selected Tennessee’s top principal for 2010-2011 by the state Department of Education. He is the Principal of Collierville High.

  • Jeff McCalla ’05 received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. He was the only math teacher in Tennessee to receive this honor. He is an upper school math teacher at St. Mary’s Episcopal School.

  • Tamika Jordan ’99 is a 2010 Milken Educator Award recipient. She teaches at Avondale Elementary School in West Memphis, AR.

  • Jane Bray Nelson ‘71 honored for outstanding service to The American Association of Physics Teachers. She was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 2002.

  • Dr. Ty Handy ’91 has been selected as the new President of Northwest Florida State College.

    • Prepare the educators of tomorrow with your commitment today
    Your careful planning has prepared you for today. Now your planning can help prepare the next generation of educators. When considering how you can support the U of M, consider that the largest asset in your estate may be a retirement plan with a company like TIAA-CREF. You can name the University of Memphis and the College of Education as a partial or whole beneficiary of that plan. Please email Dan Murrell, Director of Planned Giving, or call him at 901.678.2732. Read more

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