CEHHS Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Chandra Harris-McCray, 2018 WPI Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship Recipient

June 8, 2018 by Jonah Hall

Chandra Harris-McCray, 2018 WPI Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship Recipient

Congratulations to Chandra Harris-McCray, PhD student in Higher Education Administration, who is the recipient of the 2018 Women’s Philanthropy Institute Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship. This fellowship will help Chandra complete her dissertation at the University of Tennessee Knoxville on African American alumnae philanthropy to institutions of higher education.

Chandra’s argument, informed by research as well as a decade of personal and professional experience, has led her to the premise that Women of Color, and in particular African America women, are often ignored and overlooked for their philanthropic potential. The implications for her findings go beyond identifying a new donor source, speaking more specifically to influence. Philanthropy and giving lends voice and authority which in turn can ignite change. As Chandra’s proposal demonstrated, diverse voices are missing from the perspectives of many organizations and agencies. Chandra’s study, framed in cogent theory, has the transformative potential to facilitate change.

ELPS, PERC, & CEL Honored at Big Orange Family Campaign Celebration

April 19, 2018 by Jonah Hall

ELPS, PERC, & CEL Honored at Big Orange Family Campaign Celebration

The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, including the Postsecondary Education Research Center and the Center for Educational Leadership, were honored at the Big Orange Family Campaign Celebration for achieving 100 percent participation among its faculty and staff.

The Big Orange Family Campaign is an annual month long initiative to enhance philanthropy among faculty and staff. Last year, donations helped provide 6,148 undergraduate and graduate students with scholarships. This year the Big Orange Family Campaign reached 59.56% participation, a full 5.5% higher than the campus-wide goal of 54%.

April 2018 Promising Practice

April 3, 2018 by Jonah Hall

April 2018 Promising Practice

PERC publishes another Promising Practices for 2018 discussing results of results for Chattanooga State Community College’s “Focus on Completion.”

Promising Practices is an initiative sponsored by the Postsecondary Education Research Center (PERC) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The series highlights evidence-based practices promoting student success inclusive of access, persistence, retention, and postgraduate success.

Patrick Biddix to Teach NASPA Online Course on March 26, 2018

February 19, 2018 by Jonah Hall

Patrick Biddix to Teach NASPA Online Course on March 26, 2018

Patrick Biddix will join Joseph Levy and Rishi Sriram in teaching an online course hosted by The NASPA Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Knowledge Community. The course titled, “Assessment versus Research. What is the Difference? Why Does It Matter?”, will help students to establish and clarify the language used for assessment and research, expectations of practitioners at multiple levels, and trends in the field.

As a result of attending the course, students will:

gain foundational knowledge about the concepts of assessment and research;
learn approaches to assessment and research based on definitions and philosophy;
apply assessment and research processes to student affairs practice; and
articulate the need for assessment and research skill development as professional practice.

The course will take place on March 26, 2018 at 1:00pm est. It is free for members of the Assessment, Evaluation, and Research KC and $99 for non-members.

Chancellor Emeritus and Distinguished Professor, Jimmy Cheek, Named 2018 United Way Campaign Chair

February 6, 2018 by Jonah Hall

Chancellor Emeritus and Distinguished Professor, Jimmy Cheek, Named 2018 United Way Campaign Chair

Jimmy Cheek, Chancellor Emeritus and Distinguished Professor, will be taking on another new role for the year; the 2018 United Way Campaign Chair in addition to his role within our college. He will replace Ken Lowe, who over the course of 2017, raised almost fourteen million dollars for the organization. The United Way helps people by raising funds and supporting programs that provide opportunity and create lasting change in the community. His efforts will help ensure a good life for all by funding essential programs.

In Fall 2017, Cheek joined the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences (CEHHS) in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. In addition to teaching graduate classes, Cheek has established and oversees the Postsecondary Education Research Center (PERC). This center identifies, conducts and coordinates research on initiatives and ideas designed to enhance higher education at the institutional, state, and national levels to enhance policy and practice. Through this center, partnerships with organizations such as the Tennessee Board of Regents and the university system as well as several postsecondary institutions across the state will focus on improving higher education in Tennessee.

We congratulate you on this new appointment and wish you every success.

Story and photo compliments of CEHHS

Big Orange College Tour

October 31, 2017 by Jonah Hall

Big Orange College Tour

Has anyone ever told you to “never judge a book by its cover”? Well, I’m adding to the phrase: never judge an institution by its type.

Last week, my graduate program of College Student Personnel spent three full days visiting Belmont University, Fisk University, the University of Tennessee at Martin, and West Kentucky Community Technical College to learn about how these institutions worked. While I will probably wait a while before hopping on a bus again, I am definitely thankful for the chance to see my learning in action. Meeting with student affairs professionals, asking questions, and looking behind-the-scenes at how students are served at each location allowed me to build a better picture of this field I’m learning about at the University of Tennessee.

The biggest lesson of the trip, though, was that my preconceived notions of what I thought I’d see were so wrong. My assumption that a small, rural community college wouldn’t be as impactful for students as a large, urban institution was shattered. I realized that, sometimes, tradition and a tight-knit community makes for a group of amazing student leaders. And I’m going to take this lesson into the rest of my career. As I continue my education at the University of Tennessee, I’m going to look for the gems within the University that make this institution amazing. I can’t wait to find them.

Story written by Madison Merrifield, graduate student in the College Student Personnel program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.

CSP Student Receive SACSA Graduate Student Award

October 31, 2017 by Jonah Hall

CSP Student Receive SACSA Graduate Student Award

The College Student Personnel Program located in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies is proud to share that our 2018 Cohort student, Chris Ndiritu, has been awarded the Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA) award for Outstanding Graduate Student for 2017.

Chris has demonstrated “academic achievement, campus involvement and potential for significant contributions to the Student Affairs profession” per the qualification guidelines for the award. While working towards his degree, Chris is also an Assistant Hall Director for Hess Hall.

The College of Education, Health and Human Sciences congratulates you Chris! Read more about the SACSA; an organization “providing cooperative assocation and professional development for professionals engaged in college student affairs work.”

Meet April Partin, 2017-18 Leadership Academy Fellow

August 24, 2017 by Jonah Hall

Meet April Partin, 2017-18 Leadership Academy Fellow

The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies would like to introduce you to April Partin. April is an assistant principal at Green Magnet Academy. Previously, April served as an assistant principal at A. L. Lotts Elementary School. She also taught third- and fifth-grade students as a classroom teacher at A. L. Lotts and served as a lead teacher. April has a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in elementary education from UT, as well as an Education Specialist degree in educational administration and supervision from Lincoln Memorial University.

April is one of 15 fellows chosen for the 2017-18 Center for Educational Leadership’s Leadership Academy based in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. During this full-time, intensive 15-month fellowship program, April will spend four days a week at a school with an experienced mentor principal and a fifth day in coursework and seminars with professors and expert practitioner partners learning the research and theory behind great school leadership. Next, all the fellows will lead an action research capstone project that integrates their learning across the many curricular areas of the academy, and complete an electronic portfolio documenting proficiency in school leadership. Upon successful completion of the program, April will be awarded a master’s or educational specialist degree and will be eligible to earn a license to be a school principal in Tennessee.

Congratulations April for being selected as one of the 2017-18 Leadership Academy Fellows!

Meet Oscar Osorio, 2017-18 Leadership Academy Fellow

August 24, 2017 by Jonah Hall

Meet Oscar Osorio, 2017-18 Leadership Academy Fellow

The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies would like to introduce you to Oscar Osorio. Oscar is the assistant principal at Union Grove Middle School in Blount County. Prior to this appointment, he taught seventh and eighth grade science and served on the leadership team at Heritage Middle School. Before joining Blount County Schools in 2000, Osorio began his teaching career in Miami, Florida. Osorio has a bachelor’s degree from Florida International University as well as master’s degrees in science education and educational administration, supervision, and leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

Oscar is one of 15 fellows chosen for the 2017-18 Center for Educational Leadership’s Leadership Academy based in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. During this full-time, intensive 15-month fellowship program, Oscar will spend four days a week at a school with an experienced mentor principal and a fifth day in coursework and seminars with professors and expert practitioner partners learning the research and theory behind great school leadership. Next, all the fellows will lead an action research capstone project that integrates their learning across the many curricular areas of the academy, and complete an electronic portfolio documenting proficiency in school leadership. Upon successful completion of the program, Oscar will be awarded a master’s or educational specialist degree and will be eligible to earn a license to be a school principal in Tennessee.

Congratulations Oscar for being selected as one of the 2017-18 Leadership Academy Fellows!

Meet Spencer Long, 2017-18 Leadership Academy Fellow

August 24, 2017 by Jonah Hall

Meet Spencer Long, 2017-18 Leadership Academy Fellow

The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies would like to introduce you to Spencer Long. Spencer is an assistant principal and athletic director at Karns High School. Spencer previously taught AP biology and anatomy and physiology at Halls High School, where he also served as a lead teacher. He began his teaching career at Jefferson County High School. Spencer has a bachelor’s degree in biology for health sciences from Carson-Newman University.

Spencer is one of 15 fellows chosen for the 2017-18 Center for Educational Leadership’s Leadership Academy based in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. During this full-time, intensive 15-month fellowship program, Spencer will spend four days a week at a school with an experienced mentor principal and a fifth day in coursework and seminars with professors and expert practitioner partners learning the research and theory behind great school leadership. Next, all the fellows will lead an action research capstone project that integrates their learning across the many curricular areas of the academy, and complete an electronic portfolio documenting proficiency in school leadership. Upon successful completion of the program, Spencer will be awarded a master’s or educational specialist degree and will be eligible to earn a license to be a school principal in Tennessee.

Congratulations Spencer for being selected as one of the 2017-18 Leadership Academy Fellows!