Virginia Tech School of Education Newsletter - Summer 2023
REIMAGINING THE FUTURE
SOE NEWS
Gerard Lawson Named Interim Director of the Virginia Tech School of Education
Gerard Lawson, Ph.D., professor in the Counselor Education Program, has been named interim director of the Virginia Tech School of Education, effective August 1, 2023.
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RESEARCH NEWS
Researcher to Offer Perspective on Difficult Histories Through Digital Collection
When the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences solicited proposals for its Juneteenth Scholars program earlier this year, Marcus Johnson already had an idea percolating. Over the past few years, Johnson, a professor in the Educational Psychology program has been thinking about how he could contribute his knowledge of educational psychology and educational research and evaluation to the conversation about diversity and social justice. This summer, he’s found a way to do just that.
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Virginia Tech School of Education Researchers Study Suicide Prevention Across the Lifespan
The cold, dreary winter season isn’t the only time of the year when people may need a mental health boost. Mental health research shows that spring and summer are the times of year when suicide rates are highest in the United States.
Suicide prevention is important, and faculty members of the Counselor Education and Supervision program, including Matthew Fullen, and Breanna Ellington, along with alumna Jordan Westcott, are researching innovative ways to help people face and overcome mental health challenges.
Interdisciplinary Team Receives National Endowment for the Humanities Grant
The team of David Hicks, professor in the History and Social Sciences Education program, Todd Ogle ’95, Paul Quigley, and Thomas Tucker started out in 2011 as a small group of faculty interested in harnessing the potential of new technologies to visualize, represent, and learn about hidden and hard histories. That led the group to work on internally and externally funded projects including an extended reality experience that allows elementary students to explore a formerly segregated school, a virtual reality experience that allows children to explore the World War I tunnels of Vauquois, and visualizations of Virginia Tech’s past.
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AWARDS
Amy Price Azano and Matthew Fullen Receive Excellence Awards
Amy Price Azano, professor of Adolescent Literacy and Rural Education, and faculty member in the English Education program, received the Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship Award for her work as Director of the Center for Rural Education, and Matthew Fullen, associate professor and program leader of the Counselor Education and Supervision program, received the Land Grant Scholar Award for his work in public policy for the mental health of older adults.
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David Alexander Recognized for 50 Years of Dedicated Service to Virginia Tech
David Alexander, professor of educational leadership and policy studies, was recognized this spring as one of the two current professors who have served Virginia Tech for 50 years. Alexander was awarded a personalized Hokie Stone for his many years of hard work.
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Interdisciplinary Team Wins the Virginia Tech XCaliber Award
In addition to the national endowment for humanities grant, the team of David Hicks, professor in the History and Social Sciences Education program, Todd Ogle ’95, Paul Quigley, and Thomas Tucker won the VT XCaliber Award, a program organized by the provost's office and Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS) for the past 25 years.
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ALUMNI NEWS
Doctoral Alum Named 2023 Principal of the Year by The Washington Post
Liza Burrell-Aldana, graduate of the Virginia Tech School of Education’s doctoral program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, was named 2023 Principal of the Year by The Washington Post. She was selected for the annual award from a panel of 16 finalists representing school districts in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Chelsea Haines named chief of staff for Student Affairs
Chelsea Haines, alumna of the Higher Education and Student Affairs program in the Virginia Tech School of Education, was named Chief of Staff for VT Student Affairs. Haines has worked in multiple positions at VT, and in February was named faculty member of the month by the graduate school for her work with students with disabilities as well as students who are otherwise minoritized and marginalized.
UPON REFLECTION
Investing in Rural Students
Rachelle Kuehl, doctoral alumna in the Curriculum and Instruction program, and Research Scientist in the Center for Rural Education, reflects on how she came to the profession of teaching and later to life as an academic studying rural education. She shares with us how programs like SEE VT help students envision different career possibilities before graduating high school and seeing the many options that exist beyond college.
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IN MEMORIAM
In Memoriam: Glen Earthman
Glen Irving Earthman, associate professor emeritus of educational leadership at the Virginia Tech School of Education, passed on March 26, 2023.
Earthman, who was born on Aug. 13, 1927, was a professor for 46 years at Virginia Tech, where he taught educational leadership and planning and advised doctoral students. He chaired more than 80 doctoral dissertations for students during his tenure.
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