1. What sparked your interest in joining SRU’s College of Education as a faculty member?
SRU is known for their education program and outstanding reputation, and has been since the COE was developed. It is a regional state school with high achieving accolades and I can’t go anywhere without running into an SRU alum! For example, one time I made a pit-stop while driving home from vacation (out of state) and saw somebody wearing SRU attire. The reputation that SRU has in PA and around the country is that it’s a great university! In addition, every time I attend a professional development training as a teacher, they’re often led by SRU faculty. We have a community full of practitioners who through research, and experience with teachers, are a voice in the community.
SRU is known for their education program and outstanding reputation, and has been since the COE was developed. It is a regional state school with high achieving accolades and I can’t go anywhere without running into an SRU alum! For example, one time I made a pit-stop while driving home from vacation (out of state) and saw somebody wearing SRU attire. The reputation that SRU has in PA and around the country is that it’s a great university! In addition, every time I attend a professional development training as a teacher, they’re often led by SRU faculty. We have a community full of practitioners who through research, and experience with teachers, are a voice in the community.
2. How long have you been a faculty member? In what department?
This is the 3rd year, special education department. I work with some really amazing practitioners and researchers. I feel like the special education department and COE as a whole work toward the same goals of fostering growth and preparing teaching professionals to be confident, competent, and active members of our field.
3. Did you attend SRU for your undergraduate career? If not, where did you go?
I went to Geneva college for my Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Chatham for graduate school for my Master’s degree in Special Ed and elementary ed. I was supervisor of curriculum, supervisor of special education, a K-12 administrator, and then received my Doctorate in special education and school leadership from Pitt.
I went to Geneva college for my Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Chatham for graduate school for my Master’s degree in Special Ed and elementary ed. I was supervisor of curriculum, supervisor of special education, a K-12 administrator, and then received my Doctorate in special education and school leadership from Pitt.
4. What jobs did you have prior to being a professor at SRU?
- I was a High School Special Education teacher in a school district in Upper St. Clair, in all content areas, grades 9-12. I also worked as a dental assistant and dental radiology technician throughout undergrad and graduate school, and retail at Ross Park Mall for a while.
5. What is one positive experience that you have had with a student?
As someone trained in special education, I view students through a whole person approach. One of my most positive experiences was working with a student through the transition program who over the course of three semesters grew into an adult with a variety of educational experiences, from starting freshman year off with a rocky start, changing her major, and finally turning it around, applying for a graduate school, and is now a graduate assistant at a thriving university in Pittsburgh. I was very proud of her successes and her perseverance through an atypical college pathway.
6. What do you love most about teaching?
Just getting to know students and the way they attend, process, and form their own knowledge. I love to help support and guide students toward achieving their own goals and the first sense of success that comes along with earning their diplomas. I love to see educational success at this level, and the lasting effects it can have at all levels of education and all levels of students. It is just fun getting to be a small part of the overall “ah-ha” moment.
