Winter 2001
Volume 3, Number 2
  


Higher education alumni Celebrate
anniversaries with symposium

By Marcus Lingenfelter

Reprinted from Connections (September 2000), courtesy of the College of Education

Penn State’s nationally recognized Higher Education Program and Center for the Study of Higher Education celebrated historic milestones in the midst of an academic conference in 2000. From Theory to Practice: An Anniversary Symposium, held at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, attracted more than 100 alumni, faculty and students to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Higher Education Program and the 30th anniversary of the Center for the Study of Higher Education. The symposium also attracted national leaders and scholars to address key issues facing higher education.

Three keynote speakers — Dr. Stanley O. Ikenberry, president of the American Council on Education; Dr. Kathyrn M. Moore, dean of education at North Carolina State University; and Dr. Kenneth P. Mortimer, president of the University of Hawaii System and chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Mãnoa — highlighted the symposium with thought-provoking messages of possible and probable changes facing higher education in the 21st century.

“The connections between scholars and policy and decision makers are weak to nonexistent,” Ikenberry said. “So as a result, decisions too often are based more on intuition, on short-term political gain or on perceived market advantage and less and less on thoughtful analysis of policy alternatives and carefully calculated estimates of implications and consequences.”

Four symposium tracks focused on themes of historic strength at the Higher Education Program and Center for the Study of Higher Education: Access, Retention and Diversity; Faculty Issues; Student Learning and Assessment; and Institutional, State and Federal Policy Issues.

Alumni, faculty and students presented side-by-side on issues about both the theory and practice of higher education. Alumni who pursued careers as academics, as well as administrators, were present to engage in the discussions.

One policy track session gave participants a sneak preview of the State Higher Education Report Card, issued by the National Center for Public Policy in Higher Education in November. Dr. Joni E. Finney, vice president at the National Center for Public Policy in Higher Education and a 1990 College of Education graduate, provided a preview of the report card, with assistance from Karen Paulson, research associate at the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems and a 1996 Penn State alumna.

Bringing the conversation down to the practical level, Dr. Peter H. Garland, executive director of Pennsylvania’s State Board of Education and 1987 Penn State alumnus, highlighted what the State Higher Education Report Card will mean to state-level policy makers.

The symposium also provided many opportunities for faculty and their former students to reconnect and present sessions together. Dr. Robert M. Hendrickson, professor of education and head of the Education Policy Studies Department, reacted to the papers delivered by two former graduate assistants — Dr. M. Chris Brown II, assistant professor of higher education at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and a 1997 Penn State alumnus, and Kristine Otto, current Ph.D. candidate.

Reconnection was not only happening between faculty and former students, but also between the former students themselves — now as alumni. A special reception, co-sponsored with the Penn State Alumni Association, presented the first formal opportunity for Higher Education Program graduates to gather together on campus. The reaction was immediate and unmistakable.

“It has been too long coming, and I sincerely hope events like this continue on a more regular basis,” Dr. Roger L. Williams, associate vice chancellor of university relations at the University of Arkansas, said. He is a 1988 graduate of Penn State.

President Graham Spanier paid a visit to the symposium reception and talked with fellow presidents Ikenberry, Mortimer and Dr. John W. Moore, president emeritus of Indiana State University and 1970 Penn State alumnus.

During the closing dinner and celebration program, alumni of the Higher Education Program and former faculty of the Center for the Study of Higher Education made informal tributes and told stories about their College of Education experiences. Dr. David H. Monk, dean of the college, addressed the group and commended them for the historic gathering.


Dr. Joni E. Finney, vice president at the National Center for Public Policy in Higher Education, presents a talk on "State Postsecondary Education Policy: A Framework for Understanding Performance" during From Theory to Practice: An Anniversary Symposium sponsored by Penn State's College of Education.
Highlighting the evening was a special video production prepared by current Ph.D. candidate Susan Richardson. The video presented the colorful history of the Higher Education Program and Center for the Study of Higher Education with special video and voice clips from many distinguished alumni and faculty who could not join the festivities, including Dr. Larry Leslie, professor of higher education at the University of Arizona. An emotional video tribute was paid to professor emeritus Dr. Sebastian V. “Marty” Martorana (1919-00). Many of his family and friends were in attendance.

The enthusiasm and energy created by the symposium has sparked renewed interest among faculty, alumni and friends of the Higher Education Program and Center for the Study of Higher Education. Developments are currently in the works to ensure that the momentum of the symposium will be captured and continued in the future.

Hendrickson, Dr. J. Fredericks Volkwein, professor, senior scientist and director of the Center for the Study of Higher Education, and Dr. Roger L. Geiger, professor of higher education and professor-in-charge of the Higher Education Program, co-chaired From Theory to Practice: An Anniversary Symposium.

An outreach program of the College of Education


Dr. W. Terrell Jones (left), vice provost for educational equity at Penn State, speaks during a panel discussion on “College Experiences and Climates that Promote Diversity.” Also on the panel were Dr. Evelynn M. Ellis, director of the Center for Minority Graduate Opportunities and Professional Development in Penn State’s Graduate School; Dr. Patrick T. Terenzini, professor and senior scientist with the Center for the Study of Higher Education at Penn State; and Dr. Betsy A. Palmer (not shown), assistant professor of higher education at the University of Alabama.
Dr. Kenneth P. Mortimer (left), president of the University of Hawaii System and chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Mãnoa; Dr. Stanley O. Ikenberry (center), president of the American Council on Education; and Dr. John W. Moore, president emeritus of Indiana State University, talk during a reception for From Theory to Practice: An Anniversary Symposium, held at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel.


Recognizing exemplary outreach teaching, research and service
This Penn State faculty member is sharing research with individuals, organizations and communities to make life better:

College of Education—Penn State University Park
  
  Dr. Frank C. Worrell
  Associate Professor of
  Education
  (School Psychology)
Dr. Marley W. Watkins
Associate Professor of
Education
(School Psychology)

Dr. Tracey E. Hall
Assistant Professor of
Education
(Special Education)
The outreach work of the research team of Dr. Tracey E. Hall, Dr. Marley W. Watkins and Dr. Frank C. Worrell is resulting in substantive changes in the educational system of Trinidad and Tobago. The Ministry of Education of Trinidad and Tobago approached Worrell for assistance in working with children with academic and behavioral difficulties. He and his colleagues developed a three-day workshop to assist administrators, guidance officers and teachers in the development and utilization of psychoeducational assessment tools. However, it became clear that workshops alone would not be sufficient to address this issue. In collaboration with the Guidance and Special Education units, the team is collecting data on pre-reading skills, reading comprehension, learning behaviors and school-related problem behaviors on a representative sample of students. This data will be used to develop normative standards for Trinidad and Tobago in the areas assessed, and the norms will be used in assessing students who are referred for psychoeducational evaluations. The team also provided additional workshops to the Guidance and Special Education officers on data collection procedures and on administering and scoring the instruments. The research conducted by the three faculty members will directly benefit children who need assistance by providing information for educators to use in developing interventions for students.


Recognizing exemplary outreach teaching, research and service
This Penn State faculty member is sharing research with individuals, organizations and communities to make life better:

Dr. Norma J. Leslie
Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Penn State College of Medicine at The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Dr. Norma J. Leslie promotes health and wellness for people of all ages. She has provided leadership in building community awareness, developing programs and making presentations to improve the health and well being of women, youth and families. At the Annville-Cleona School District, she shared her knowledge of health issues with teenagers through presentations, hands-on workshops and information flyers. She also worked to elevate the importance of women's health through a series of health education luncheons for community women on topics such as osteoporosis, breast cancer screening, cardiovascular disease and contraception. She organized the Women’s Health Education Institute, which produces ongoing education programs and support groups for issues such as divorce or adoption. She is responsible for the development of the Community Healthfest in Hershey. The Healthfest is a community education event involving collaboration between multiple medical disciplines — family practice, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology and physical therapy — as well as several community groups. She also implemented a comprehensive Women’s Health Week held in Hershey in 2000. Activities included daily lectures and seminars addressing women’s health issues.

  

U.Ed.OCE 01-8002/mkm/GSM