UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

1 . Article:

Dr. Debbie Hamm named Interim Superintendent of Richland School District Two

Date Entered:

6/14/2013

Dr. Debra "Debbie" W. Hamm, a USC College of Education graduate, has been named the Interim Superintendent of Richland School District Two.

As of Thursday, June 13th, Richland School District Two Superintendent Dr. Katie Brochu requested and was granted release from her contract effective July 1, 2013. The Board of Education voted to name Dr. Debbie Hamm, the District’s Chief Information Officer, as Interim Superintendent. Dr. Hamm will work closely with Dr. Brochu to ensure a smooth transition in leadership.

Dr. Hamm is a 39-year veteran in K-12 education, 34 of those years were in serving Richland School District Two. She graduated with a masters in education from the college in 1975. Hamm is also a term appointed USC Graduate School faculty member affiliated with the College of Education's Department of Educational Studies until May 15, 2016. Formerly, Hamm served as one of the Professional Education Unit Quality Assurance Committee Members as a District Representative from 2003-2005.

“I’m honored to be asked to serve in this capacity," says Hamm. "We have a great group of people to work with in the District and I know that we will continue to move the District forward together.”
For more information, see Richland Two School District's Press Release

2 . Article:

Dr. Joshua Gold published in The Family Journal

Date Entered:

6/14/2013

Educational Studies Professor Dr. Joshua M. Gold within Counselor Education published his literature-based paper called “Supporting later-in-life intimate relationships: The role of the couples counselor” in The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 21, 351-357. doi: 10.1177/1066480713478767.

This paper offers information regarding the prevalence of three later-in-life couple constellations: “empty-nesters”, cohabiting, and remarried couples. These demographic figures support the importance of the identification of common issues facing couples in each constellation, leading to implications for clinical services.
Read article

3 . Article:

Dr. Michelle Maher published in Studies in Higher Education

Date Entered:

6/5/2013

Dr. Michelle Maher and research team’s work on “Performance-based assessment of graduate student research skills: Timing, trajectory, and potential thresholds,” appears in the current internationally acclaimed journal, Studies in Higher Education (SHRE Vol.38, No. 5, 2013).

Drawing on a sample size of almost 100 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduate students, they empirically investigate the development of research skills and scientific reasoning using students' written research proposals. Analyses of proposal performance data suggest a potential developmental trajectory of research skills in which the ability to effectively situate work in context using primary literature, and to generate testable hypotheses, emerge early in students' careers. Other skills such as data analysis and forming conclusions from data, appear to develop later. They discuss these findings in relation to threshold concepts theory, a framework which posits that intellectual growth occurs in transformative leaps rather than a gradual progression.

4 . Article:

Dr. William H. Brown honored with the 2013 USC Educational Foundation Research Award

Date Entered:

5/31/2013

The College of Education Professor of Educational Studies Dr. William (“Bill”) H. Brown has received the 2013 USC Educational Foundation Research Award for Professional Schools.

Each year, the University of South Carolina recognizes faculty for outstanding research and scholarship. The USC Educational Foundation Research Award was first bestowed in 1994 and is one the University's most prestigious annual prizes for research and scholarship. The award consists of a $3,000 prize and a certificate of recognition that is given for innovative research or creative achievement.

Innovative research or creative achievement may take the form of books, articles, productions, exhibits, compositions or arrangements, or for a series of presentations provided that the separate items are related to a defined research topic, problem or theme.

Brown has 36 years of professional experience working with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers (birth through 6 years of age) and their families. He has worked with young children with and without developmental delays and has focused on technical assistance and professional development for early childhood and early childhood special education. Most recently, Brown worked as a member of an interdisciplinary team investigating preschool children's physical activity.

“Throughout my career,” says Brown “I have focused on preschool services for young children, especially those in poverty or at-risk for difficulties related to school readiness. I am proud that this has led to research, evaluation projects and consultations with state and local agencies.”

This is the third professor from the college’s Department of Educational Studies who has been honored with this award. The first award recipient was Dr. Huynh Huynh in 1999 and the second recipient was Dr. Erik Drasgow in 2010.

5 . Article:

Dr. William Brown receives the 2013 USC Educational Foundation Research Award

Date Entered:

5/31/2013

The College of Education Professor of Educational Studies Dr. William (“Bill”) H. Brown has received the 2013 USC Educational Foundation Research Award for Professional Schools.

Each year the University of South Carolina recognizes faculty for outstanding research and scholarship. The USC Educational Foundation Research Award was first given in 1994 and is one the University's most prestigious annual prizes for research and scholarship. The award consists of a $3,000 prize and a certificate of recognition that is given for innovative research or creative achievement. Innovative research or creative achievement may take the form of books, articles, productions, exhibits, compositions or arrangements, or for a series of presentations provided that the separate items are related to a defined research topic, problem or theme.

Brown has 36 years of professional experience working with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers (birth through 6 years of age) and their families. He has worked with young children with and without developmental delays and has focused on technical assistance and professional development for early childhood and early childhood special education. Most recently, Brown worked as a member of an interdisciplinary team investigating preschool children's physical activity.

“Throughout my career,” says Brown “I have focused on preschool services for young children, especially those in poverty or at-risk for difficulties related to school readiness. I am proud that this has led to research, evaluation projects and consultations with state and local agencies.”

Brown is the third professor from the college who has been honored with this award. The first award recipient was Dr. Huynh Huynh in 1999 and the second recipient was Dr. Erik Drasgow in 2010 -- all three professors are from the college's Department of Educational Studies.

6 . Article:

Dr. Katherine Chaddock honored with a Carolina Trustee Professorship

Date Entered:

5/31/2013

On the evening of May 10th, Dr. Katherine Chaddock was honored at USC’s Annual Black Tie Commencement Dinner by being awarded the 2013 Carolina Trustee Professorship in the area of Humanities, Social Sciences, Business, and Law. The next day, Dr. Chaddock was invited to be a member of the platform party at USC’s commencement ceremony and recognized by President Pastides as a Carolina Trustee Professorship award winner.

The Carolina Trustee Professorship award is given annually by the Board of Trustees to a tenured full professor who demonstrates a record of teaching excellence as well as a record of outstanding performance in research and in public service and outreach activities. Excellence in teaching may be demonstrated in any phase of the University's educational mission and in any setting, from the undergraduate classroom to the graduate seminar, in laboratories, clinical practice, independent study, or supervised research.

Chaddock is a professor within the college's Higher Education and Student Affairs program. Her research, writing, and teaching are in the areas of higher education history, policy and curriculum; adult and continuing education; and organization theory and practice. “My selection,” says Chaddock “will certainly re-energize my motivation for working with my truly accomplished students and conducting exemplary research. And, it will provide a boost to my role as head of the Richard Greener Memorial Planning Committee that is working toward getting a campus memorial to Greener, the university’s first black faculty member in the 1870’s.”

The Board of Trustees presents three Carolina Trustee Professorship awards annually -- two professors from the Columbia campus (Dr. Chaddock and Dr. S. Michael Angel) and to a professor from one of the other USC campuses (Dr. Maureen H. Carrigan from USC Aiken). To recognize their accomplishments, each recipient is awarded a $2,000 stipend and receives a framed certificate to commemorate the honor.

Dr. Chaddock is the first faculty member from the College of Education to earn this distinction.

7 . Article:

The world is reading Dr. Matthew Irvin's research study

Date Entered:

5/30/2013

Lead author of the paper, USC's College of Education Educational Studies Assistant Professor Matthew Irvin said:"Team sport is significantly related to higher grade-point averages and a higher likelihood of completing high school and enrolling in college...Read more

8 . Article:

College of Education is accepting applications for the HEBA program

Date Entered:

5/27/2013

The College of Education, in partnership with the Darla Moore School of Business, is processing applications for the 3rd cohort of its Higher Education Business Administration master’s degree (M.Ed. – HEBA).

This unique and relatively new graduate degree is offered within the College of Education’s online education programs that have just been listed as 5th best in the nation by U.S. News and World Report’s Best Online Education programs for 2013.

The HEBA graduate degree integrates understanding of contemporary practices and policies in higher education with essential skills in business concepts and strategies. It builds knowledge and abilities applicable across a broad range of professional opportunities within the higher education community. This program is especially targeted for working professionals in higher education who have at least two years of post-bachelor, professional or academic-related work experience. Visit the HEBA website to learn more about the graduate degree in Higher Education Business Administration and share with your colleagues who might be interested in pursuing this type of program.

9 . Article:

Dr. Bethany Bell receives the 2013 AERA Division D Early Career Award

Date Entered:

5/16/2013

Dr. Bethany A. Bell, educational statistics, “Received the 2013 AERA Division D Early Career Award in Measurement and Research Methodology Quantitative Methods and Statistical Theory.

10 . Article:

Dr. Michelle Maher Wins Best Publication Award

Date Entered:

5/10/2013

Dr. Michelle Maher, EDLP associate professor, in collaboration with coauthors from the University of Virginia, recently won the Best Publication Award from the AERA Special Interest Group, Doctoral Education Across the Disciplines. The article, “Graduate students’ teaching experiences improve their methodological research skills” was published in Science. With a readership of over 1 million people worldwide and a five-year impact factor of 31.769, publication of this article in Science brings empirical evidence informing the effective practice of doctoral education in the sciences and engineering to a vast audience of university faculty and their graduate students.

11 . Article:

Dr. Peter Moyi named 2013-2014 IAAR Research Fellow

Date Entered:

5/8/2013

USC's College of Arts and Sciences Institute of African and American Research (IAAR) has awarded Dr. Peter Moyiof from Educational and Leadership Polices with a $2,500 IAAR Research Fellowship. Only three USC faculty and three graduate assistants received fellowships.

Each year, the Institute offers a limited number of small awards for USC faculty and graduate students, providing both funds to support projects in any area of African or African American Research and access to an office at the Institute for the 2013 - 2014 academic year. Awards range from $1,500 to $2,500 per project.

The primary focus of these awards is to encourage research and creative activities to generate projects that will enter the mainstream, raising public awareness and having the potential to secure additional funding for extended study. The emphasis of these awards is upon interdisciplinary research and groups or individuals may apply.

Dr. Moyi's research is on "Managing to learn: Principals and school effectiveness in Kenya."

Moyi's research narrative: With increasing expansion of primary and secondary education, the central issue facing developing countries, like Kenya, is one of matching this quantitative expansion with the need to ensure quality education is provided for all children. Effective school leadership has been identified as an essential ingredient in raising school quality. Moreover, the influence of principals is likely to increase, given the growing emphasis on decentralization of decision-making and greater accountability to the school and community level.

Principals in developing countries operate under different role expectations from those in Western, more developed countries. The focus of this project is not on what principals should be doing in relation to the school effectiveness in their schools. Rather, the project is concerned with understanding the context in which principals manage schools and the strategies they adopt increase school effectiveness. A better understanding of how principals regard the efficacy of their activities in improving educational quality is a prerequisite to effectively introducing educational reform initiatives. See Announcement

12 . Article:

Ashlye V. Wilkerson elected to Winthrop Board of Trustees

Date Entered:

5/2/2013

It is with great pride that the college recognizes that Ashlye V. Wilkerson - a PhD Candidate and graduate research and teaching assistant at the College of Education and who is also an adjunct instructor at Midlands Technical College - has been elected to the Winthrop University Board Trustees.

The Joint Legislative Committee to Screen Candidates for College and University Boards of Trustees confirmed that The Honorable Ashlye V. Wilkerson will fill the the 6th Congressional District seat on Winthrop University's Board of Trustees. Her term will begin July 1, 2013 and serve through 2014.
Joint Legislative Committee Report

13 . Article:

Dr. Joshua Gold published in The Family Journal

Date Entered:

5/1/2013

Dr. Joshua M. Gold, counselor education, has published "The experiences of child-free and childless couples in a pronatalistic society: Implications for family counselors," in the The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families.
Download PDF

14 . Article:

USC Provost celebrates eight college graduate students

Date Entered:

5/1/2013

The University of South Carolina’s Provost Michael D. Amiridis and Dr. Argiri Aggelopoulou-Amiridis are hosting a new event to honor and give attention to the more than sixty graduate students who have landed tenure-track faculty positions this year. This is the first institution-wide event to recognize the scores of doctoral and MFA students who have succeeded in this endeavor.

The College of Education graduate students who will be honored are: Dedire Clary, Kela Goodman, Rebecca Harper, David Martinson, Mark Meehan, Grant Morgan, Kindel Turner Nash, and Gem Thomerson will be among other USC graduates who are accepting tenure-track faculty positions across South Carolina, the nation, and elsewhere around the world.
More Information

15 . Article:

Grants awarded to Baum, D'Amico and Dickenson

Date Entered:

5/1/2013

Angela Baum will be examining how to "Improve the Quality of Child Care for SC Families" with a $184,005 grant from 3/1/13-2/28/14.

Leigh D’Amico will be conducting a two year $33,200 grant on "External Evaluation Services on Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools PK-8 Transition Project"

Tammiee Dickenson has been awarded a $60,500 grant for the Arts Assessment Institution (AAI) 2013 Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC) Project from 4/1/13-6/30/13.

16 . Article:

The college awarded multiple ASPIRE funding

Date Entered:

4/30/2013

The Office of the Vice President for Research announced the results of the 2013 ASPIRE I, II and III internal funding competitions. There were three college faculty who were awarded ASPIRE I funding: Dr. Thomas Hebert, Dr. Matthew Irvin, and Dr. Kate Niehaus.

A total of 226 proposals were submitted to the ASPIRE (Advanced Support for Innovative Research Excellence) programs this year, of the 226 proposals received a total of 67 were funded. Of those who were funded at the ASPIRE I level, three were from the college: Dr. Thomas Hebert, Dr. Matthew Irvin, and Dr. Kate Niehaus.

Prakash Nagarkatti, the Vice President for Research, notes, "ASPIRE awards have a significant impact on research and scholarly activities of our faculty across all disciplines - they are aimed to encourage interdisciplinary and creative collaborations with the goal towards enhancing scholarly publications and research funding."

ASPIRE-I funding is provided by the Office of the Vice President for Research to encourage faculty to develop individual innovative research projects leading to the pursuit of external funding or to the promotion of scholarly activities. This program will have four tracks of funding.

ASPIRE I / Track I funds are awarded to Junior Faculty (tenure-track Assistant Professors only)to encourage the development of research projects for further extramural funding or other scholarly pursuits. Irvin and Niehaus earned this distinction. Irvin's project will focus on "Understanding the Link between Substance Use and School Dropout among Rural Youth" whereas Niehaus will explore "How Social-Emotional Well-Being Contributes to the Academic Achievement of English Language Learners."

Hebert received ASPIRE I / Track IV funding to continue his research on "High-Achieving University Students from Low-Income Backgrounds." Track IV funds are awarded as innovative and exploratory grants for Senior Faculty (Tenure-Track or Tenured Associate and Full Professors) to expand or re-focus their research.

MORE information

17 . Article:

Craig Kridel receives the 2013 Mary Anne Raywid Award

Date Entered:

4/25/2013

The Society of Professors of Education has presented Craig Kridel- E. S. Gambrell Professor of Educational Studies and Museum of Education Curator - with the Mary Anne Raywid Award. This award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the study of education. Past recipients include Gloria Ladson-Billings and Maxine Greene.

At the 2013 American Educational Research Association Conference (AERA) in San Francisco, Kridel delivered the Mary Anne Raywid Lecture and two other presentations.

18 . Article:

2013 University of South Carolina Service Awards

Date Entered:

4/16/2013

USC's annual State Service Awards were given to fifteen College of Education faculty and staff who in 2012 marked 20 and 10 years of service with the University and the State of South Carolina.

Twenty Years of Service:
Bryan S. Burgin
Kellah M. Edens
Constance M. Isaac
Margo N. Jackson
Julie Rotholz
Rhonda W. Stephens
Mitchell L. Yell

Ten Years of Service:
Edward P. Cox
Panayiotis Doutis
Karen Scott
Stephen Thompson

To review the honorees, link to the 2013 State Service Award Program

19 . Article:

Dr. Drasgow receives $22,638 DDSN grant funding

Date Entered:

4/10/2013

Erik Drasgow enters his second of a three-year grant from the SC Dept of Disabilities and Special Needs.

The title of the grant is "Provision of Contract Courses for BACB Examination Qualification Requirements." (BACB is the acronym for Behavior Analyst Certification Board). Drasgow will receive $22,638 to implement this portion of the grant.

20 . Article:

Wild about Children’s Literature?

Date Entered:

4/8/2013

Wild about Children’s Literature?

If so, join us in EDCS 824:
Seminar Advanced Studies in Children’s Literature
Dr. Pamela Jewett
Fall 2013

Classes will be held on the following Saturdays:
August 28, September 14 & 28, October 12 & 26, and November 9 & 30.

21 . Article:

Columbia Food: A History of Cuisine

Date Entered:

3/29/2013

Simultaneously, Laura Aboyan is a graduate student earning her HEBA master’s degree, is an assessment & certification administrator in the College of Education, “The Hungry Lady” food blogger, and now the published author of Columbia Food: A History of Cuisine in the Famously Hot City (American Palate) (SC).
Last year, The History Press contacted Laura about writing a book about local food in Columbia. As of today, the book is available on Amazon.com as well as Barnes & Noble.com. Laura describes her writing style as a dash of sarcasm and wit. “As it happens,” says Laura, “the year leading up to 30 has been incredible so far, with the promise of even better things to come: My first book is published, I'll finally finish my master's degree in June, with graduation set to follow in August, and I'll be spending two glorious and much anticipated weeks eating and drinking my way through Ireland and the U.K. with family and friends. Things have been going spectacularly well for me, and while part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop, I'm trying to enjoy every moment of every day.”
Laura has even expanded these activities to include a new more comprehensive website called The HungryLady.org TheHungryLady.org and amped up her activity on Facebook and Twitter accounts. She started her blog as a result of winning a contest for South Carolina's restaurant week back in early 2011. Laura says “I love food, and I love to write, so it seemed like a good pairing. I never would have dreamed that my little pet project would turn into something bigger, but here I am, fresh off of writing a book. It is certainly thanks to the fabulous people who take the time to read and comment on my blog. I couldn't have done any of this without you, so thank you, from the very bottom of my heart.”

22 . Article:

Jennifer Hodshon is a USC Women of the Year finalist

Date Entered:

3/29/2013

Jennifer Hodshon, a junior elementary education major from Cary, N.C. was recognized as a finalist for the USC Women of the Year.
2013 USC Outstanding Woman of the Year finalists announced
Jennifer receiving the award

23 . Article:

The Somalia Papers by Dr. Peter L. Moyi

Date Entered:

3/26/2013

Somalia gained its independence in 1960 however civil war has raged since 1991. Dr. Peter L. Moyi has written three research papers that address how this conflict has affected education and the people who seek it. The profound impact that conflict has had on communities, children, households, gender roles, patterns of enrollment and retention, socioeconomic struggles, and challenges of expanding education access:
Girl's Schooling in war-torn Somalia
Who goes to school? School enrollment patterns in Somalia
School Enrollment and Attendance in Central South Somalia

24 . Article:

A 2005 graduate of USC's master's in secondary education program helps jailed S.C. youths

Date Entered:

3/5/2013

A 2005 graduate of USC's master's in secondary education program, Tim Bunch helps jailed S.C. youths find their voices through poetry. LinkHere

25 . Article:

Register for Appreciative Advising Class

Date Entered:

2/7/2013

Registration is now available for the online Appreciative Advising class for this summer, fall, and next spring:Hope you will join us!

26 . Article:

U.S. News & World Report Ranks USC College of Education Graduate Program 5th Best in the U.S.

Date Entered:

1/16/2013

The U.S. News and World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs has ranked The University of South Carolina College of Education 5th in the nation. When asked to comment on the ranking, Dean Lemuel Watson said, “I immediately thought of the hard work of our outstanding faculty. To be a 21st century College of Education that serves and prepares professional educator, leaders and scholars, we must be innovative and creative in designing and offering online courses and programs that are relevant to the needs of the field. I continue to be excited about the commitment of our faculty and staff to put in the extra effort to make the College of Education one that is responsive to the needs of the state.“ Rankings are based on survey results that reported information in the categories of admissions selectivity, faculty credentials and training, student engagement and accreditation, and student services and technology. Our responses were based on our online graduate education programs in the following four degree areas:
• M.Ed in Educational Administration
• M.Ed in Teaching
• M.Ed in Educational Technology
• M.Ed in Higher Education Business Administration
The official rankings may be accessed at: U.S. News & World Report Ranks USC College of Education Graduate Program 5th Best in the Nation

27 . Article:

Columbia Business Monthly Magazine commends Dr. Nancy Freeman .

Date Entered:

1/16/2013

Columbia Business Monthly Magazine commends Dr. Nancy Freeman .