FORWARDCHANGING TOMORROW THROUGH EDUCATION TODAY • A PUBLICATION OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY’S COLLEGE OF EDUCATION VOLUME V, 2020 FORWARD LETTER FROM THE 2020 / VOLUME V DEAN DEPARTMENTS PUBLISHED BY The College of Education tagline is COLLEGE OF EDUCATION PEOPLE “Changing Tomorrow Through Education 01 Mississippi State University Today.” Clearly, the outstanding SERVICE ADVISERS work of our faculty, staff, and 22 students aligns perfectly with Richard Blackbourn FEATURES Dean this statement. One only has 27 to review the pages of this Teresa Jayroe RESEARCH Associate Dean publication to recognize that 37 the College of Education is Mitzy Johnson GIVING Assistant Dean having a significant impact on 42 teaching, research, and public service. Trish Cunetto Director of Development Such accomplishments are consistent with our mission to provide quality Camille Carskadon instruction, research, and service to state, Communication Specialist national, and international audiences CONTRIBUTORS which significantly impact educational Megan Bean attainment, economic development, and Amy Cagle quality of life issues. The accomplishment Camille Carskadon of this mission is made possible by the James Carskadon work of outstanding faculty, staff, students, Logan Kirkland alumni, and friends. It is important to 3 Harriet Laird note that the successes outlined in this MSU’s Lee Receives CDE’s Inaugural Online Allison Matthews newsletter are a mere subset of the work Teaching Award Joni Seitz going on in the COE. In my 15th year as Sasha Steinberg dean of the Mississippi State University Beth Newman Wynn College of Education, I continue to be impressed with the work of our people EMAIL: and the professionalism they display in [email protected] conducting this work. ONLINE: WWW.EDUC.MSSTATE.EDU Accomplishments such as those outlined NEWS: in this publication are extremely challenging during a period of limited WWW.EDUC.MSSTATE.EDU/NEWS 30 state assistance for higher education. MSU Professors of Music author books However, we have been aided greatly by FACEBOOK.COM/ the generous support of our loyal alumni COLLEGEOFEDMSU and friends. We are appreciative of this TWITTER.COM/ generosity and humbly ask for your COLLEGEOFED_MSU continued support. INSTAGRAM.COM/ Hail State, COLLEGEOFED_MSU COVER: The drumline of MSU’s Famous Maroon Band lines up during the Dawg Walk Richard Blackbourn of a 2019 football game. The Famous Maroon 34 Band continues to add to its number, making Dean, College of Education The third time isn’t always the charm. the 2019-2020 academic year the biggest Sometimes it only takes two. band to date. PEOPLE THREE-TIME GRADUATE SELECTED AS COLLEGE MSU educational OF EDUCATION’S 2019-2020 ALUMNI FELLOW psychology graduate first public school administrative role awarded Phi Kappa Phi as principal of Natchez Cathedral School, where he served for four fellowship years. He would follow that role with seven years as an assistant superintendent at Jackson School A recent Mississippi District. Then in 1994, John spent State University graduate eight years as Superintendent is one of only 58 students of Education for the Oxford nationwide to receive a School District. He then joined Phi Kappa Phi fellowship. the Mississippi Department Angela Provenzano, who graduated of Education as Deputy State in May 2019 with a bachelor’s degree Superintendent of Education and in educational psychology, will receive later in an interim position of State $8,500 from Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s Superintendent of Education. oldest and most selective collegiate John Jordan, 35-year education All these roles have provided honor society for all academic veteran, has been selected as the John an impressive resume that’s still disciplines. The fellowship will support college’s 2019-2020 Alumni Fellow. growing. In 2006, John served as the Provenzano, a native of Milford, Sponsored by the MSU Alumni first executive director in the pre- Connecticut, as she pursues a doctorate Association and the university’s construction phase of the Mississippi in occupational therapy at Ohio State eight academic colleges, the Alumni Children’s Museum. Since 2012, University. Fellows Program recognizes alumni John has been executive director of Since its creation in 1932, the who have distinguished themselves Core Learning, LLC, an educational fellowship program has become in their respective careers. They are consulting firm he founded. one of the society’s most visible and selected by each academic college During his career, John has been financially well-supported endeavors, and are invited to return to campus saluted by MSU on two previous allocating $615,000 annually to to meet with students, both in the occasions – induction into the MSU outstanding students for first-year classroom and informally. Hall of Fame in 1981 and an MSU graduate or professional study. John is a three-time Bulldog College of Education Circle of The selection process for a graduate – proudly boasting his Excellence Award for contributions fellowship is based on the applicant’s degrees from the university’s to the field of education in 1998. evidence of graduate potential, College of Education. He earned a Also, in 1998, he was honored undergraduate academic achievement, Bachelor of Science in social studies as the American Association of service and leadership experience, education in 1976, a Master of Arts School Administrators Mississippi letters of recommendation, personal in education in 1980, and a Doctor of Superintendent of the Year. statement of educational perspective Education in school administration Additionally, John received the and career goals, and acceptance in in 1982. Golden Lamp Award for Service to an approved graduate or professional As a young adult, John’s MSU the Field of Education in 2010 by program. degrees allowed him to be seriously the Mississippi Association of School Phi Kappa Phi fellowships are considered for professional leadership Administrators. part of the society’s numerous award positions in Mississippi. He began John is a native of the community programs, which give nearly $1 million his career as a classroom teacher of Carter near Yazoo City. He and each year to outstanding members and at E.E. Bass Jr. High School in his wife, Lou, now reside in Madison. students on chapter campuses through Greenville and then later at Woolfolk They have three children. study abroad grants, dissertation Elementary School in Yazoo The MSU Alumni Association fellowships, funding for post- City. Following these positions, welcomed the 2019 class of Alumni baccalaureate development, member he returned to MSU and earned Fellows on campus Nov. 14 - 16, and chapter awards, and grants for master’s and doctoral degrees and 2019. The group was honored in local, national and international worked as a technical writer for the conjunction with the MSU vs. literacy initiatives. l land-grant institution’s Research and Alabama football game. As Alumni Curriculum Unit. Fellows, these graduates will hold the By 1983, John moved into his distinction for life. l COLLEGE OF EDUCATION 2020 VOLUME V 1 PEOPLE usicianship, leadership and service Craig Aarhus, the university’s Aarhus was initiated into Kappa Mis the motto of Kappa Kappa Psi senior associate director of bands, Kappa Psi as an undergraduate student National Honorary Band Fraternity. An now is namesake of the Sponsor/Band at Auburn University in 1993. He associate professor in Mississippi State’s Director Excellence Award, given each is co-adviser of the fraternity’s fifth Department of Music who exhibits year to one chapter sponsor or college oldest chapter at MSU and has served those same characteristics was honored band director in Kappa Kappa Psi’s since 2011 as the Southeast District’s by the organization in a special way. Southeast District. governor, or adviser. 2 FORWARD www.educ.msstate.edu College Newsletter “This was a complete surprise department. He is part of a team and is humbling to say the least,” that has lead MSU’s band program MSU’s Lee Aarhus said. “You don’t serve in to unprecedented growth, making a role like this expecting it one of the largest bands in the Receives CDE’s recognition, but it is nice Southeast. when it comes along. Aarhus, a native of Inaugural Online This organization Sylacauga, Alabama, has given me so received his Bachelor of Teaching Award much, and I am Music Education degree very appreciative from Auburn University of this special and his Master of Arts acknowledgement.” and Doctor of Musical Founded on the Arts degrees in conducting campus of Oklahoma State from the University of Iowa. Prior University in 1919, Kappa Kappa to his appointment at MSU, he was Psi operates primarily as a student a successful band director in the service and leadership recognition public schools of Lanett, Tallassee, society. With more than 200 active and Mobile, Alabama. chapters across the country, the A member of the College Band organization works to assist college Directors National Association, and university directors of bands Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu in developing organized service Alpha, Tau Beta Sigma and activities and other leadership the Mississippi Bandmasters experiences. For more, visit https:// Association, Aarhus also is president kkpsi.org. of the Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Aarhus said the Sponsor/ Mu International Bandmasters Band Director Excellence Award Fraternity. recognizes those who have made Serving since 2007 as music a significant impact on students’ director at First Presbyterian success throughout the year. Kappa Church in Starkville, Aarhus has Kappa Psi chapters nominate been an adjudicator and clinician n assistant professor in Mississippi potential recipients, and the winners throughout the Southeast, Midwest AState’s Department of Instructional are honored during the Southeast and Canada. He has received Systems and Workforce Development is the inaugural recipient of the District’s annual convention. multiple awards for excellence Online Teaching Award given by “Generally, recipients are people in teaching, research and service, the university’s Center for Distance who are very involved in the work of including Kappa Kappa Psi’s A.