University of Kansas School of Education Alumni Magazine
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THE JAYHAWK EDUCATOR UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF EDUCATION ALUMNI MAGAZINE SPRING 2019 BY THE NUMBERS © UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS No. Department of Special Education 1 U.S. News & World Report ranking (among all public special education graduate programs, 2019) No. 9 School of Education (among all public schools and colleges of education, 2019) No. 19 Curriculum and Instruction (among all public schools, 2019) FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2018–2019 Scholarships: approximately $1 million awarded to 325 students Education-related research dollar expenditures for 2018–2019: $49,059,609 National & international presentations: 278 Refereed articles (published and in-press): 217 Book chapters (published and in-press): 91 Books (published and in-press): 24 “A warrior bases his or her life on giving back.” —Billy Mills PHOTO COURTESY KANSAS ATHLETICS 2 © UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS From the dean 4 New academic program offerings 6 Research notes 11 Faculty profile: A conversation with Tammy Coder Mikinski 12 THE Thanks to our student workers JAYHAWK 14 EDUCATOR Honoring Billy Mills is published once each year by the University of Kansas School of Education 20 for the School’s more than 25,000 alumni. Dean Rick Ginsberg, Ph.D. Bravo! Honors and awards for students, alumni and faculty Editor Paula Naughtin Design Robin Ward, The Write Design 26 Thanks to Candace Dunback, Bernie Kish, Mike Krings, Janelle Laudick, Jim Marchiony, In memoriam Rose Naughtin, Belinda Reynolds, Melissa Robinson and Jack Sparks 27 Alumni updates and requests for more information may be sent to: Faculty updates KU School of Education Attn: The Jayhawk Educator, Joseph R. Pearson Hall 28 1122 West Campus Road, Room 212 Lawrence, KS 66045-3101 Ever onward For more information, call (785) 864-3726 or e-mail [email protected]. Inside back State dollars were not used to pay for any Remembering the teachers who touched our lives part of this publication. COVER PHOTO PUBLIC DOMAIN • 1964 PRESS PHOTO TRACK RUNNER BILLY MILLS COMPETING IN THE 10,000 METER RACE, 14 OCTOBER 1964 1 FROM THE DEAN Embracing the future is in a period of transition HIGHER as emerging technologies, increasing costs, and EDUCATION competition for students and research dollars combine with other factors to create an atmosphere of disruption. With the escalating costs of options for post-secondary education, students are questioning as never before the value of seeking At the Global Education Deans Forum, Shanghai, October 2018 undergraduate and graduate studies. Institutions that resist making appropriate changes do so at their own peril. Education is changing across the world and The faculty, students, staff and collaboration with other institutions has become friends of the School of Education at critical to success. The School is a founding member of KU have worked hard to stay ahead of the Global Education Deans Forum which brings together the curve. We embraced an aggressive deans of education from around the world to identify online presence several years ago that common issues and strategize ways to address them. has resulted in today serving more The initial meeting of this group was held in Shanghai in than 500 full-time graduate students October 2018. It included about 30 deans from 16 countries in master’s degrees and certificate across six continents. Through this group, the deans share programs spanning four departments. innovations that are transferable to other contexts and At the same time, in multiple seek ways to join together for advocacy, programming Rick Ginsberg on-campus programs, faculty and research collaboratives. A key goal is finding ways employ technology to create hybrid to support our curriculum with global perspectives courses, so students meet both face-to-face and online and provide opportunities for students to learn about for content and interactions. As a research university, we other cultures. fund an internal evaluation group to conduct research and The ever-changing nature of our work is part of what assessments of varying aspects and outcomes of our online makes being at KU so exciting for all administrators, programs to assure that we are meeting student needs and faculty and students. We have accomplished much. quality standards. At the same time, we are working with This year’s rankings of graduate programs were recently a variety of external groups in considering ways to offer released, and our programs remain highly regarded. micro-credentials for professionals needing in-time support Our research expenditures hit the highest level in our for their daily work. Many programs are also considering history. Rankings can be controversial, but on key peer ways to provide more leeway for students in required and employer assessments and various productivity course selection, so those already in professional roles can measures, our evaluations rank us among the top 20 choose the content and topics they need to be successful. of all universities out of about 350 assessed, and in the Another example of embracing innovation is in our top 10 among public institutions. teacher preparation program, where we employ a virtual We recognize the need, however, to continually consider learning network for students and practicing teachers to and assess the value of all aspects of our work. Given connect and develop together through discussions, our dynamic times, your input and support are crucial webinars and other online connections. for our success. Rock Chalk! 2 New chair appointed for Department of Educational Psychology Associate Professor David Hansen Hansen came to KU in 2007. In addition to his new role is the new chair of the Department of as department chair, Hansen currently is actively involved in Educational Psychology. research on early adolescents’ learning through participation Dean Rick Ginsberg announced in high-quality arts programs led by professional teaching the appointment which took effect artists. He employs a positive youth development framework January 1, 2019. “The school is lucky to understand how teen brain development promotes to have a scholar and leader of essential skills and competencies for adult life and work, David’s abilities in this important role,” such as human agency and learning to engage with Ginsberg says. “He brings a wealth challenges. Hansen is the author or co-author of more than of forward-thinking ideas that will 25 peer-reviewed journal articles or book chapters. build on the department’s great “The department continues to build on a strong David Hansen strengths and help move them to foundation, a large part due to Dr. Lee’s leadership as new heights.” chair,” Hansen says. “I look forward to carrying forward the Steven Lee, former chair, stepped down in December momentum of the department as we seek to expand our 2018. Lee was hired as chair of the department in June 2012 service to Kansas and impact the field of education.” and also served as part of the department’s faculty since For more information, visit epsy.ku.edu/new-chair. 1987 as a professor in the school psychology program. 3 PREPARING EDUCATORS AND PROFESSIONALS AS LEADERS: New undergraduate academic programs offered through KU Edwards Campus New programs geared for students seeking careers in therapeutic sport and fitness-related settings are now available in entirety at the University of Kansas Edwards Campus. The new online undergraduate certificate in strength and conditioning program prepares students for careers in strength and conditioning, including personal training and tactical strength and conditioning. Career opportunities range from coaching positions at educational institutions or professional sports teams, to personal training at a fitness facility, to gym management and gym ownership. The curriculum focuses on the physiological, biomechanical and metabolic aspects of strength and conditioning. A completely online bachelor of applied science degree in exercise science will begin in fall Students in the exercise science classes at the Edwards Campus learn actively in the new exercise 2019. A hands-on component of and human performance laboratory (above and right) and the metabolic and body composition exercise technique and assessment research library (below). Those enrolled in the online programs are also welcome. through video applications and virtual classroom opportunities is included classes in biomechanics, exercise undergraduate exercise science in the program in addition to physiology and clinical fitness degree programs and a certificate coursework. Earning this degree evaluation techniques, as well as program make an option available will allow students to pursue careers admission and general education for any student who seeks eventual in personal training, corporate courses. Many students will go on to employment in the healthcare, fitness, wellness, military/law enforcement further study in graduate programs in corporate wellness, or strength and first responder readiness, and physical therapy, physician’s assistant conditioning industries.” strength and conditioning. school or other related programs. Taylor continues, “Several of our In addition, the existing bachelor The program also provides a strong on-site exercise science classes utilize of science in exercise science scientific core that lays the foundation the brand new exercise and human degree continues to allow Kansas for careers in cardiac rehabilitation performance laboratory to engage City-area students to complete and strength and conditioning. students in active learning. Students