UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State College of Education honored faculty, staff and students who have made substantial advancements and accomplishments within their respective fields, the college and the University at its annual spring awards ceremony on April 14.
“It is a special day because this is one of the only times during the year that we bring all cross-sections of the college together in celebration with one another — students, staff and faculty,” College of Education Dean Kim Lawless said.
“I want to take a personal minute to express my gratitude for everyone each and every day, whether it's teaching in the classroom, supporting programs, working with students, or extending beyond our college walls with alumni from the State College area or other partners. Every single person in this room has held us together through one of the most harrowing times in our lives and in the history of this college. And without each and every one of you every day doing the work that is the passion of your heart, soul and mind, we wouldn't be able to rejoin ourselves in celebration today.”
Following is a look at the winners of each of the awards:
Cotterill Leadership Enhancement Award
The Cotterill Award was created through an endowed donation from Joan and David Cotterill to recognize faculty or staff for exemplary performances and leadership efforts. The award includes resources for professionally related activities, including participation in conference, seminars and sabbaticals.
This year’s award is being shared by Boni Richardson, an administrative support assistant in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I), and the entire Herr Clinic staff.
“If you haven't had the privilege of meeting Boni, she is receiving this award because of her amazing dedication in the equity space, including her work with the DCEC,” Lawless said. “So if you haven't had an opportunity to interact with Boni, I ask you to spend a few minutes today and get to know this woman because she is incredible.”
The Herr Clinic is operated by the Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education (EPCSE). Master’s and doctoral students use the Herr Clinic for clinical practicum and serve the University’s student population. While it is not a crisis center, the Herr Clinic makes its counseling services available to students to discuss and work through mental health struggles.
“What we're doing this year is making sure that we recognize a support unit in the college that might not be recognized if we don't call it out in a space like this. We don't realize how much support the Herr Clinic has provided to us over the past two years and continues to provide for our community each and every day,” Lawless said.
“The Herr Clinic has helped us through loss and has helped us through racial trauma. It has helped the school districts deal with issues where their students have struggled or also experienced loss. It works with our students to make sure that we are putting change agents out into the schools that can deal with these issues when they move into their career. I can think of no other group that was necessary to help us move through this period.”
Climate Enhancement Award
The college’s Climate Enhancement Award is a tribute to an individual who promotes the college’s diversity agenda, including those efforts made through the DCEC.
This year’s winner is LaWanda Ward, assistant professor of education (higher education) in the Department of Education Policy Studies (EPS). Her nominator, Alicia Dowd, professor of education (higher education), said Ward’s expertise is clearly in great demand and she is highly responsive in sharing her knowledge and experience.
“Applying critical race feminist perspectives and critical conscious legal literacy, her work calls attention to the problematic nature of color-evasive and racially minoritizing discourses in educational policy and the law,” Dowd said. “Dr. Ward’s work is timely and consequential, advancing understanding of issues such as linguistic violence/assaultive speech, affirmative action, race-conscious admissions and the experiences of Black women in academia.”
Mimi Schaub, associate teaching professor of education (educational theory and policy) said one of the bright spots for her over the last two years has been the opportunity to think more deeply about anti-racist pedagogy.
“It has been an important vehicle for creating community and awareness, and my colleague, Dr. LaWanda Ward, is an important contributor to these opportunities. She is an active participant in promoting the College of Education’s goals for equity and inclusivity,” Schaub said.
Outstanding Researcher Award
Tiffany Nyachae, assistant professor in C&I, is this year’s winner of the Outstanding Researcher Award for junior faculty members. The award typically recognizes the significance of a particular contribution to the research literature.
Fran Arbaugh, professor of education (math education), nominated Nyachae, saying her work is significant in its focus on analyzing and supporting racial literacies in research communities, public spaces and teachers’ classroom practices.
“A very important component of her scholarship is that it is applicable to education practitioners, thus helping to bridge the research-practice divide. Her focus on Black feminist pedagogies provides an insightful lens to the field of literacy education,” Arbaugh said.
Scott McDonald, professor of science education, said Nyachae’s work focuses on Black feminism in the context of literacy, but it also has a learning sciences orientation, helping her to cross scholarly communities.
“Her scholarship also informs her teaching, both undergraduate and graduate, where she brings to bear ethnic studies approaches to thinking about curriculum and teaching in a course designed to develop teachers and teacher educators that have a nuanced view of the relationship between curricular materials and the context, and particularly the power dynamics in which they were developed,” McDonald said.
Career Achievement Award
JoLynn Carney, professor of counselor education in EPCSE, received the Career Achievement Award, which recognizes longtime faculty whose career-long teaching, research and service excellence have established them as standing out among their peers. Carney has been at Penn State since 2003.
Kathy Bieschke, vice provost for faculty affairs, said she has worked with many faculty colleagues since coming to Penn State in 1991, and Carney ranks among the finest.
“What struck me about Dr. Carney was her long-standing commitment to students, to scholarship that was impactful and to doing what was in the best interest of the greater good. She has worked tirelessly to ensure that students received high-quality training in both the master’s and doctoral programs in counselor education,” Bieschke said.
In her nomination letter, Deirdre O’Sullivan, associate professor of education (rehabilitation and human services), said Carney’s research on youth bullying and prevention and interventions for school counselors is well known and admired in the counseling literature and beyond.
“Service to the profession is not merely part of her job, but rather a clear demonstration of her commitment to the profession, the department, the college, the larger University community and beyond,” O’Sullivan said.
Outstanding Staff Award
Two Outstanding Staff Awards were presented this year to recognize the accomplishments of staff members for their outstanding service and commitment to faculty, staff and students of the Penn State community.
Brenda Martinez, a student advocacy specialist in the Office of Education and Social Equity (OESE), earned the award for the second straight year. Martinez is responsible for the development, implementation, administration and oversight of all matters related to students.
“She shows engagement not guided by a job description but by work ethic and collaborative nature,” said María Schmidt, assistant dean for education and social equity. “Her dedication originates from her oath and passion for social justice and educational equity. Her commitment transcends work tasks and her contributions influence the continued operation and growth of OESE and the college’s diversity goals.”
David Borges, OESE administrative support coordinator, nominated Martinez and said she has been an amazing supervisor and mentor. “I cannot express with enough gratitude the ways she’s help me grow as an employee,” Borges said. “To have someone who meets you where you are, listens to your needs, mentors you and builds you up is the definition of a leader.”
Borges added that Martinez brings a realistic approach with solutions if things cannot go as planned. “She thinks full picture from the small details to the overall. Anyone who works with her can attest to her attention to details and ability to be a dynamic planner,” he said.
Liz Widman is the second recipient of the Outstanding Staff Award. She was the finance assistant in the Department of Learning and Performance Systems (LPS) when she was nominated by Susan Land, head of that department; she is now a financial coordinator in the college’s main finance office.
According to Land, the past year has been marked by significant staff turnover in key financial assistant positions in the college, and Widman was called upon to fill in and work these positions for other departments during the rehiring period and help transition new staff into these roles.
“She understands that behind the numbers on a spreadsheet are people that are here to serve. Ms. Widman frequently contributes to the department discourse on anti-racism and serves as an advocate for the most vulnerable,” Land said.
According to Alba Congiu, finance officer for the College of Education, Widman has been “an incredible asset” for her department and for the finance office.
“She quickly became the go-to person for training resources,” Congiu said. “Throughout her time, she has been a phenomenal team player. She always shows up ready to provide all of her best work. A very strong trait is calm under pressure, and she is consistently eager to help others succeed.”
Outstanding Teaching Award
The Outstanding Teaching Award recognizes a faculty member who demonstrates teaching excellence, shows respect to all students and individuals, and creates an environment conducive to learning. This year’s winner is Kim Powell, professor of education (art education) in C&I and affiliate professor of music education in the College of Arts and Architecture.
“Kim is among the most talented educators I have ever observed, and we are fortunate to have her in C&I. She is deserving of recognition for her innovative, responsive and inclusive pedagogies, as well as the ways in which students have been positively influenced through their interactions with her,” said her nominator, Carla Zembal-Saul, department head for C&I.
Esther Prins, professor in LPS, surveyed students in one of Powell’s ethnography classes and comments included: inclusive, welcoming, inspiring, joyful, thoughtful, reflective, flexible, open, knowledgeable and respectful.
“These descriptors encapsulate why Dr. Powell would make a deserving recipient of the Teaching Award. Students are learning to be better scholars not only through the course content, but also through the way she teaches the material and interacts with students. They are privileged to have her as a teacher and a mentor,” Prins said.
Undergraduate Student Leadership and Service Award
Special education major Sarah Fox received the Undergraduate Student Leadership and Service Award, which recognizes undergraduate student leaders who are full-time students in the College of Education and have maintained a grade-point average of 3.0 or better.
JT Taylor, associate professor (special education) in EPCSE, nominated Fox because of his relationship with her on the Penn State Student Council for Exceptional Children (PSU-CEC).
“She is currently in her second stint as PSU-CEC president, and she has successfully helped coordinate the Diversity in Education Conference as well as coordinate our THON efforts. In her capacity as a student and leader, she has shown great enthusiasm and has been a beacon for other members,” Taylor said.
Jeremy Moeller, assistant teaching professor in EPCSE, cited her outstanding leadership and service to her peers, students she has worked with, the University and neighboring communities.
“During her time in my SPLED 408 and SPLED 454 courses, she led by example in the classroom through her consistent participation, work ethic and professionalism. She not only led in the classroom, but outside it as well,” Moeller said.
“Her volunteer work at WorkLink and PSU-CEC requires a lot of work and long hours … organizing, raising money and giving back to the community, such as Special Olympics. She has demonstrated leadership to the whole University community,” he said.
Graduate Student Recognition Award
Quiana Jackson is one of two recipients of the Graduate Student Recognition Award this year. The award recognizes an advanced graduate student’s contribution to research and/or teaching. Publications, conference presentations, external recognition from one’s professional association and exemplary teaching are examples of outstanding performance that may be recognized.
Jackson is a Bunton-Waller Fellow and her nominator, Michelle Brown, a doctoral candidate in science education, said, “During the pandemic, when students and faculty were struggling to maintain balance and thrive, let alone survive in the academy, Quiana created a healing, rejuvenating space.”
Joseph Valente, associate professor of education in C&I, said Jackson possesses a rare combination of creative and intellectual fearlessness as an emerging scholar-activist, teacher/educator and graduate student leader.
“Quiana’s work is timely and urgent because of its potential for contributing to and further diversifying anti-oppressive, anti-racism, anti-sexism and anti-ableism work with pre-kindergarten and elementary-aged children. She is a rock-star teacher,” Valente said.
Allison Sterling Henward, associate professor of education in C&I, said that never among graduate students and rarely among faculty and instructors has she encountered an instructor with the kindness, dedication and skill of Jackson.
“Quiana is one of the finest and most fluid and capable instructors in Early Childhood Education, if not in the college as a whole,” Henward said.
Leandra Cate is the second Graduate Student Recognition Award recipient.
“Leandra is one of the strongest students I’ve ever taught during my career,” said Karly Ford, assistant professor of education (higher education). “Leandra has dedicated a significant amount of time and energy in service to the College of Education. She has served as president of the Higher Education Student Association; volunteered her time as teaching assistant in two courses; served as the student member of the recent EPS faculty search; and participated in an advisory role in the department committee on student evaluation.
“She is a stellar citizen who does not hesitate to contribute to her program, department and college. In my 11 years of teaching, I have never known a student so brilliant, hardworking and deserving of opportunities.
Rebecca Tarlau, associate professor of education and of labor and employment relations, praised Cate for being one of the most talented graduate students she has advised.
“She is a beautiful writer with the capacity to synthesize difficult literatures and defend novel and important arguments,” Tarlau said. “Beyond her dissertation and coursework, Ms. Cate has been prolific co-author on a variety of publications throughout her doctoral career and already is a co-author on two publications in top journals such as Higher Education and Race Ethnicity and Education.”