SOE Student Receives Tau Sigma Scholarship

Timothy (TJ) Fitch, a student in our Special Education program, has been selected to receive a $2500 scholarship from the Tau Sigma National Honor Society. Tau Sigma is a national honor society designed exclusively for transfer students, and the award made to Fitch is the maximum amount given by the organization. In addition to being a terrific student, T.J. works in the SOE dean's office as a student assistant. Please join me in congratulating T.J.Fitch on being selected for this prestigious award from among a large number of worthy applicants.

SOE Faculty Member Receives Grant to Increase Use of Educational Technology in Science Courses

Stein Brunvand, Assistant Professor of Education, has received a Faculty Research Initiation and Seed Grant from the University of Michigan-Dearborn to support a project entitled “Promoting Cross-Discipline Collaborations to Integrate Technology in Science Instruction.” In this project Brunvand will collaborate with several CASL faculty involved in the Inquiry Institute (I2) from the fields of chemistry, physics, and biology, and with science educators from SOE, to integrate educational technology into science and science education courses for pre-service elementary teachers. This project is an important first step toward ensuring that UM-Dearborn teacher candidates have experience with state-of-the-art technological innovations that can enrich and enhance science teaching and learning, and it is expected to have ripple effects on the uses of educational technology in other undergraduate courses in the sciences on this campus.

SOE Grads at Commencement

On Saturday, December 18, more than 100 students had degrees conferred upon them at the Commencement ceremony on the campus of the University of Michigan-Dearborn. SOE Dean Silver presented 65 students who received graduate degrees, either the Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education, or Master of Science, and 37 students who received undergraduate degrees, either the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of General Studies, or Bachelor of Science.

SOE Chancellor's Medallion winner, Ashley Michelle VanSteelandt, was recognized at the ceremony, and she received the medallion at a luncheon even preceding commencement. SOE alum, Toni Simovski, addressed the graduates and their families on behalf of UM-Dearborn alumni.

Please join me in congratulating all our graduates and in wishing them great success now and in the future.

SOE Welcomes New SOCC Director

The School of Education is pleased to welcome Katherine Page Sander, LMSW, who has been named Director of the Save Our Children Coalition. Katie assumed her position on December 13; her office is in Quad C. Katie has a B.A. in Sociology and an MSW degree with an emphasis in Community Organization, both from the University of Michigan.

Prior to assuming this new position, Katie has worked for 13 years in a variety of clinical and supervisory child welfare positions in Michigan, including serving as domestic programs coordinator for Hands Across the Water and as Maternal Infant Health Program Social Worker in the Washtenaw County Department of Public Health. In addition, she brings a global perspective to her work, having worked as a volunteer in as child welfare position in Bolivia. Please join me in welcoming Katie Page-Sander to the SOE family!

SOE Honors Graduates at Reception

On December 15, 2010 the School of Education hosted a reception to honor those students who have completed their degree programs and will be graduating at the end of the fall 2010 academic term. Dean Edward Silver welcomed more than 80 students, family members, faculty, and other members of the SOE community who gathered to salute the graduates. Those in attendance constituted a cross-section of this term’s graduating class, and represented well the diversity of students and programmatic offerings in the SOE. Julie Bednark, leader of the SOE Alumni Affiliate Group, addressed the group to explain the value of staying involved as alums. Attendees also had an opportunity to hear from SOE Professor Laura Reynolds-Keefer and to view a display of samples of work completed by SOE students participating this year in the M-Portfolio initiative. Please join me in congratulating all our graduates and wishing them much success in their future as difference-makers.

SOE Student Receives Fall 2010 Chancellor’s Medallion

In recognition of her outstanding academic accomplishment, Ashley Michelle VanSteelandt (Elementary Education) has been chosen as the School of Education’s Fall 2010 recipient of the Chancellor’s Medallion. This award is an honor presented each term to one graduating senior from each academic unit at University Commencement.

Ashley came to the University of Michigan-Dearborn as a recipient of the Dean’s scholarship; she consistently achieved Dean’s List status across her undergraduate career; and she graduates this term as a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society, the Pi Lambda Theta International Honor Society in Education, and the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society.

In addition to her formal academic pursuits, Ashley has several other interests that garner her attention, including drawing and painting, East Indian classical dance, and creative writing. In fact, her artwork has been displayed at some local shows, and one of her short stories will soon be published.

Ms. VanSteelandt has also given generously of her time as a volunteer both on and off campus. She received the Distinguished Student Leader Scholarship from the University of Michigan-Dearborn for her volunteer work with First Step, a program that helps children who are victims of physical or emotional abuse. She has also provided volunteer contributions to several children’s programs in Southeast Michigan, such as the children’s craft and literacy program at the Plymouth Public Library in as well as the Junior Achievement Program in Detroit in which she taught lessons to third grade students at Old Redford Academy. In addition, she has worked in the Office of Admissions and Orientation and at the Early Childhood Education Center.

Please join me in congratulating Ashley Michelle VanSteelandt on being selected for this prestigious honor and in wishing her much success in her future endeavors!