October 2023

A Message From the Acting Co-Deans

We at the American University School of Education continue to look for ways to support the collective pain and sadness as a result of the violence in Israel and Gaza. Many within our community are deeply affected by these events and we stand by our SOE mission and values in solidarity with Israelis and Palestinians who are grieving from the losses of loved ones, homes, and neighborhoods amidst continual war, human suffering, and destruction. We condemn acts of terrorism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism. With a mission to transform education through society, we see our greatest strength in teaching peace, understanding and being empathetic in conflict, and standing for justice in the US and internationally. 

Acting Co-Deans Dr. Corbin M. Campbell and Dr. Rodney Hopson

SOE Receives Prestigious Awards

Dr. Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, was selected as an Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow, a national fellowship for diverse leaders who are working on innovative ideas to advance the intergenerational economic mobility and well-being for children and families.

Assistant Professor Dr. Robert Shand was selected for an Early Career Award by the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (SREE), which recognizes early career scholars whose work has advanced research.

Alum Dr. Francesca Smith, EdD '23, was awarded the prestigious Dissertation in Practice of the Year Award from the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED), a consortium of over 100 colleges and schools of education.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded $1.8M to establish the Residency for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, where teacher candidates will spend an academic year in a school under the direction of a master teacher.

Elementary education major Chloe Leeds, BA ’24, received the Karin A. Akerson Memorial Scholarship Fund, part of the landmark Elevate Scholarship Initiative, which supports undergraduate students enrolled at AU.

SOE in the Media

SOE Adjunct Instructor and Advisory Board Member Lynne Brenner Ganek was featured in the American University Magazine article, "My Favorites: Forty Years of Page-Turners," which highlighted her award-winning educational children's television series, Reading Rainbow, and her favorite books.

Acting Co-Dean Dr. Corbin M. Campbell's research was cited in The Chronicle of Higher Education article, "Americans Value Good Teaching. Do Colleges," about the importance of good teaching.

Senior Professorial Lecturer Dr. Antonio Ellis wrote "The Resilient Voice of Justice: The Role of the Black Church in Response to the Affirmative Action Ruling," an op-ed for Diverse: Issues in Higher Education about the responsibility of Black churches in the wake of the recent Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action. 

Dean Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy was featured in the promotional video from our partner City Teaching Alliance (formerly Urban Teachers) about our joint commitment to fill the gap in the teacher pipeline, titled "Meet Dean Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy." 

Senior Professorial Lecturer Dr. Phelton Moss was quoted in the Financial Times article, "U.S. Students and Colleges Adapt to Affirmative Action Ruling." He also wrote the chapter, "Teacher Pay and Compensation," in the book, The Foundations of Urban Teaching: Key Issues. In addition, he was a panelist at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 52nd Annual Legislative Conference, where he took part in discussions on policy priorities.

Dr. Eugene Pringle, Jr., Senior Professorial Lecturer, penned the op-ed, "Educators Must Be on the Frontline of Social Activism," for The Hechinger Report on why teacher training should emphasize civil engagement.

Professor Dr. Jennifer Steele wrote the article, "Why AI May Be Like a Horror Movie for Workers, According to an Education Professor," for Fast Company detailing how AI may impact economic inequality. 

SOE in the Community

Pictured left to right, Senior Professorial Lecturer Dr. Samantha Cohen, EdD program Director Dr. William Thomas, and Adjunct Professorial Lecturer Dr. Cheyenne Batista, EdD '23, co-presented "Co-Teaching as an Opportunity to Enact Social Justice and Create Humanizing Communities" at the 2023 Convening of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED), where they shared their experiences and best practices with co-teaching as an opportunity to enact social justice and create humanizing communities.

Dr. William Thomas facilitated a panel discussion at the University of Pennsylvania with SOE EdD program alumni Magen Barnett '21 and Dylan Ravdin '23, which focused on culturally responsive teaching practices.

All AU alumni who have made a lasting impact on society are invited to nominate themselves or fellow graduates for one of American University's 2024 Alumni Awards. Nominations are accepted until November 8. Use the nominations form here to share materials in support of eligible AU alumni. 

SOE Recorded Webinars

Watch a panel discussion and Q&A on How Book Bans Impact K-12 Students, part of the Big Ideas Webinar series. Experts weighed in on the history of banned books, what is happening politically today, and the potential impact on students in the future in this recorded webinar with links to resources. 

Dr. Tyrone Howard, President of AERA, was the featured speaker at this summer’s Dr. Edmund Gordon Distinguished Lecture.

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