Alumni News

Dr. Tisa Mason, has been selected as the new president of Valley City State University in Valley City, North Dakota.

Loury Ollison Floyd, Ph.D. '03, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs at the School of Education at North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, has been elected President of the North Carolina Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (NC-ACTE).

Wendy Weichel Murawski, Ph.D. (W&M BA '91, MEd '92, Ed.S '95), Executive Director and Eisner Endowed Chair for the Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL ) at the Michael D. Eisner College of Education at California State University, Northridge hosted Dr. Diane Ravitch as speaker for their inaugural Education of the Edge lecture series.

Janet Dannemiller-Parker, adjunct instructor of modern and classical language education, in collaboration with School of Education graduates, Catherine Schwenkler, ’96, M.A.Ed. ’09, and Megan Packett Cory, ‘07 published Tejidos (Tapestries), a student-centered high school Spanish program.

Higher Education alumna Aimee Stright, M.Ed. '13 and doctoral student Melinda Anderson recently presented at the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Virginia State drive-in.

Drew Polly '99 is serving as the co-Principal Investigator of a $4 million Mathematics Science Partnership grant suppporting Kindergarten through second grade teachers' use of formative mathematics assessments.

Dr. Kristi Lee '09 was featured in the Seattle University College of Education magazine, Banner, with a discussion of making connections from the classroom to the community.

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan (non-student) award was presented at Commencement to Associate Vice President for Development Earl T. Granger III, BA 1992, MED 1998 in recognition of his heart, mind and helpfulness to others.

The Virginia Council of Administrators of Special Education has named Michael Asip President-Elect for 2014.

Sondra C. VanderPloeg, a 1993 Master of Arts in Education in Secondary Social Sciences at the College of William & Mary, has been awarded an Excellence in Advising at Colby-Sawyer College's Commencement. She serves as a Reference and Instruction Librarian at Colby-Sawyer College.

Higher Education master's students Aimee Stright and Dan Gardener each received the Phoenix Award while Shylan Scott Ph.D. '12 received the Omicron Delta Kappa Campus Improvement Award.

US Fulbright Scholar Shannon Chance Ph.D. '10 is in a show featuring her new photography collection at the University of Notre Dame in Dublin. Dr. Chance is an Associate Professor of Architecture at Hampton University.

Daina Paupe Henry MA '81, Ed.S. '94, Ed.D. '01, long time adjunct faculty member and administrative faculty member for the office of Institutional Analysis and Effectiveness will be retiring on May 1 from her full-time position at the College.

Register now for the weekend of September 14 and 15 to celebrate the Higher Education Program with alumni, friends, students, and current and former faculty.

In 2011, Rachel Previs Ball received the Mary L. Murphy Scholarship, established to provide financial assistance to students who are pursuing careers in leadership positions at an elementary school and/or pre K-12 administration. Mrs. Ball will now begin her career in administration as assistant principal at Acquinton Elementary School in King William, Virginia.

Rachel McBride '02, now in her tenth year of teaching, has been selected as Teacher of the Year for Tabb High School and for the York County School Division High School Teacher of the Year. She was also honored with the Langley Chapter Air Force Association Teacher of the Year Award.

Dr. Joy L. Davis, Assistant Professor of Education at the University of Louisiana - Lafayette, author of Bright, Talented and Black; A Guide for African American Gifted Learners, was a key-note speaker at the Annual Conference of the Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted Conference.

Antonia Fox M.Ed. '05 has been named the 2012 Outstanding High School Principal of the Year by the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP).

"My first experience researching leadership programs was while a Masters student in EPPL. I also worked with Mark Constantine in Student Activities to build one for W&M students. I became passionate about this and continued down this path for the next 10 years, earned a Ph.D. from Wisconsin in '07, and just published this book."

Ashley Cambridge Wilson Ide, M.Ed. '12 has been named assistant principal of Barron Elementary School in Hampton, Virginia. Last spring she was been named Teacher of the Year at Hampton City Schools at Phenix PreK-8 School.

Bronwyn MacFarlane, Ph.D. '08 has been offered tenure and has been promoted to Associate Professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Department of Educational Leadership where she is in her fourth year as Assistant Professor of Gifted and Talented Education at The Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education.

Susannah Wood, associate professor at the University of Iowa Department of Rehabilitation and Counselor Education, has been recognized for the University of Iowa College of Education’s 2011-2012 Collegiate Teaching Award, the college’s highest honor recognizing excellence in teaching.

Dr. Shannon Chance has been awarded a 2012-13 Fulbright Scholarship to do research at the Dublin Institute of Technology in Ireland. Dr. Chance will research innovative ways to teach engineering and architecture.

What happens when Adam Hollinger and his obnoxious older sister, Courtney, convince their absent-minded mother to allow them to adopt a pair of corgis — after their father explicitly said, “No!” ? Author Val Muller answers this question as the mystery on Dorset Drive unfolds.

Meg Smith has been named the 2012 Virginia Teacher of the Year. "I want to remind people of all the dedicated teachers, fantastic students, and meaningful moments happening in Virginia's public schools every day. I invite everyone to celebrate and strengthen our schools," said Mrs. Smith.

Patsy Rainey Joyner C.A.S.E. '83, Ed.D. '89, lauded as a true role model, retired as vice president for Institutional Advancement at Paul D. Camp Community College in January after 31 years with the college.

Dr. Deborah Pettit has been named Regional Superintendent of the Year for 2013. She and her team at the school were also credited for their response when they had to invent an emergency plan on the fly when a 5.8 earthquake — centered in Mineral — hit the county on Aug. 23, 2011.

Dr. Susan McGowan-Koyzis, who completed her doctoral work in Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership with an area of emphasis in Gifted Education Administration at William and Mary, has been appointed the Interim Dean for the Honors College at West Liberty University.

Tamra Stambaugh Ph.D. '07 and Kimberley L. Chandler Ph.D. '04 recently published a book with Prufrock Press titled Practical Solutions for Underserved Gifted Students: Effective Curriculum for Underserved Populations.

Daria Kavaliova Lorio '09 has been selected for the DAIS Instructional Specialist postion with the York County School Division. Mrs. Lorio was the 2009 recipient of the Dean's Awards for Excellence - Masters Level.

Emilie E. Godwin Ph.D. '09 was recently quoted in The New York Times while discussing the impact of brain injuries on family members, "When injuries to the brain tear at hearts."

Amy Barnes, PhD '07 (Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership) has been named Senior Lecturer in the HESA program at The Ohio State University.

Clint Calzini Ph.D. '11 (EPPL) now serves as the principal of the secondary school at Westlake Academy, Westlake, Texas. Calzini has a master's degree in school leadership from Harvard University and a bachelor's degree in secondary education with biology and psychology from the University of Vermont.

Steve Staples '76, M.Ed. '82 served for 17 years as superintendent of York County School Division, one of the highest performing school systems in the Commonwealth. For his leadership within the division and state, Steve was named Superintendent of the Year.

Billitta Jallon Brown Croskey '96 serves as the Director of Academics at the SEED School of Maryland. This fall sixth grade girls were welcomed to "William and Mary Hall," filled with college paraphenalia.

Laura Bagbey '11 is the 2011 recipient of the VACTE Scholarship. She remarked in her application, "Teaching means striving everyday to understand my students and help them to believe that their opportunities in life are limitless."

Esther (Bunny) Akers was named the 2011 recipient of the Clinical Partnership Award. "When you combine Bunny's own teaching with the teaching careers of her former student teachers, Bunny will have touched the learning of more than 230,000 middle and high school students."

Sara Miller was recently named a finalist for the International Reading Associations's Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award.

Antonis Katsiyannis, a professor of special education at Clemson University for the past 13 years, was named an Alumni Distinguished Professor in the fall of 2010.

A 1971 graduate of the Elementary Education program, Jill Sivertsen Hunter, Ed.D. now served as the chairperson of the School of Education Development Board.

Ann Gillespie Gray, M.Ed. '00, Ed.S. '03, a member of the School of Education Development Board, chose to enter William & Mary School of Education in mid-career only to find a very supportive environment for learning and balancing family life.

Dr. Shannon Chance shared the significance of LEED certification in university buildings at the Graduate Research Forum featuring the new School of Education facility. Student researchers demonstrated their findings with members of the Virginia General Assembly. The Virginia Council of Graduate Schools conducts it annually at the Library of Virginia.

On Feb. 5 during Charter Day weekend, School of Education graduate, Sue Hanna Gerdelman ’76, will be among five honored by the William and Mary Alumni Association with the Alumni Medallion.

Daina Henry spoke at the Philippine Association for Institutional Research to serve as keynote speaker at its August conference.

David Gaston '88, M.Ed. '90, (secondary education) and Ed.D. '05 (Educational Planning, Policy and Leadership) has been selected to serve in the Williamsburg James City County Public Schools central office.

Tracey F. Jones, has been named the assistant principal at Toano Middle School, Dr. Stacia M. Barreau has been named principal at James River Elementary and Joy E. Martin will serve as assistant principal at Rawls Byrd Elementary.

Wendy Ellis - Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies, Melody Camm - Principal, Carver Elementary School; Jennifer Cohodas - Principal, Atlee High School; Pamela Wilson Aerni, - Professor at Longwood College; Antoine Hickman - Coordinator of Special Education, Suffolk Public Schools; Lisa Pennycuff - Director, Special Education, York County

Mike Faughnan, Ph.D. '08 is completing eighteen months as the Chief, Education Division for the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan.

Sue Henshon Ph.D. '05 recently presented a paper at The University of Cambridge in England. She discussed the topic, “Popular Culture for Young People: A Look at Recent Trends" at a conference sponsored by Homerton College.

Providing educational leadership in many capacities, Dr. Barry L. Beers served as a middle and high school principal for 20 years and has received many honors throughout his years of service.

Three recent School of Education doctoral alumni received recognition for their dissertations by the International Society for Education Planning at the 40th annual conference held in Alexandria, VA, October 6-9.

After teaching, serving in the military and now serving as the head of the Virginia Education Association, Phil Forgit credits William and Mary with toughening him and giving him “emotional resilience,” as well as strengthening his organizing and teaching skills that have “served [him] well in life.”

Michael McDonough, M.Ed.85, Ed.S.87, Ed.D.96 has opened a private practice in County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland.

Dr. Bronwyn MacFarlane, curriculum development coach for the Toyota International Teacher Program, leading one of eight curriculum development workshops for 26 American secondary teachers at Earth University in Costa Rica.

Applauded for a strong record of teaching, research and service, Dr. Christine Olivia Cheney '71, M.Ed '73, has been named the Dean of the College of Education, University of Nevada, Reno.

Philip Robert Forgit '89, M.A.ED '95 has been selected to serve as the executive director of the Virginia Education Association.

Jordan Adair '78, Durham Academy Upper School teacher was honored at the U.S. Presidential Scholars Award ceremony and received the Teacher Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Education.

Lucia Sebastian, M.A.Ed. '87, Ed.S. '92, Ed.D. '96, has been selected to head a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) Grant to Assist School Divisions with Student Achievement.

G. Douglas Bevelacqua, has been selected to serve as Inspector General for Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Office of the Inspector General in Virginia.

Leslie S. Kaplan, Ed.D. '78, has recently co-authored and published a new textbook, "American Education: Building a Common Foundation"

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) has selected Christine L. Hill, Ph.D. '02, (Education Policy, Planning and Leadership), as Deputy Chief of Curriculum.

Warhill High School in Williamsburg has named second year teacher, Samantha Hazell '08, Teacher of the Year.

Kathleen Ricards Hopkins, Ed.D. 1996, EPPL/Special Education has authored, "Teaching How to Learn in a What-to-Learn Culture."

Ryan Hews, M.Ed. ‘04 has been named the Head of the Upper School at the Hun School of Princeton in Princeton NJ.

Brian Nichols, 2003 M.Ed. graduate of the Educational Leadership program and principal of Hidenwood Elementary School, Newport News, VA, received national recognition for his work at the ASCD national conference in Texas.

Mashea Mason Ashton '96, M.Ed '97, has been selected by The Aspen Institute and NewSchools Venture Fund for the prestigious Entrepreneurial Leaders for Public Education Fellowship Program.

Karen Work Richardson '84, Ph.D. ‘09, Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership, Program: Curriculum and Educational Technology has been named the new Executive Director of the VSTE.

Lisa Vernon-Dotson, Ph. D. ‘03, is the Director of Special Education Programs at the Duquesne University School of Education in the Department of Counseling, Psychology, & Special Education.

Linda Harkins, Ed.D., 1998 spent July 2009 in Turkey as a recipient of a Fulbright-Hays Summer Abroad 2009 grant.

When I talk with other people about my time at William & Mary, one of the most important parts of my degree program (beyond the excellent faculty) was the field placements.

At the Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative awards ceremony School of Education alum, Robert W. Harrell Jr., was named 2009 Hampton Roads Local Hero.

"It’s an amazing thing to watch how she can motivate a child who has had a long history of difficulty and she seems to know what to do to break through their struggle to understand our language and access it. She’s phenomenal."

"Great teachers change lives by inspiring students to recognize their gifts and to learn how to use them to pursue a worthy dream. Jeremy Utt is one such teacher," said Kappa Delta Pi International President Dr. Pamela Kramer Ertel.

Jennifer Hayes M.Ed 04 is Program Manager at USI Università della Svizzera italiana in Lugano, Switzerland.

With inspiration from her student teaching experience in Williamsburg, and all that she learned from W&M SOE, she is working with the Teton Science School to create three-day workshops for Wyoming teachers featuring Richard Louve's best practices for place based education.

Dr. Frances Boyd ‘72 has 38 years of teaching experience from elementary through high school in urban and rural, private and public settings. She has taught in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland in the areas of Special Education, Reading, Social Studies, French and German.

Susannah Wood, M.Ed. '00, Ph.D. '06 serves as an Assistant Professor in Counseling, Rehabilitation and Student Development at the College of Education, at the University of Iowa. In October Dr. Wood was honored with the NCACES Research Award.

Marie K. Booz ‘05 (M.Ed. EPPL K-12 Administration) is the Coordinator of Instructional Technology for the Department of Technology in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools.

Ronald D. Willard '61 (Secondary Education & Social Studies) and his wife, Joan, recently moved to an apartment in Greenspring Retirement Village in Springfield, Virginia and have two sons and four grandchildren in Northern Virginia.