College of Education
2006-07 Alumni Award Honorees

COLLEGE PARK, MD (November 2006) -It will be A Celebration of Achievement on Nov. 16, as 14 outstanding individuals are recognized for their exceptional contributions to and beyond the field of education at the College of Education's annual Alumni Awards Ceremony. Hosted at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center, the event begins 5:30 p.m. with a celebration reception, followed by dinner and the awards ceremony. The Alumni Awards is sponsored by the College of Education, the Alumni Chapter Board of Directors, and Phi Delta Kappa.

The 2006-07 honorees and their awards:

Outstanding Leader

Charlene Cooper Boston

Currently serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Baltimore County Public Schools System—the fourth largest school district in Maryland—Charlene Cooper Boston has over 40 years experience in the field of education. She began as an elementary school teacher in Baltimore City and throughout her career has held a variety of educational leadership roles, earning local, regional, and national recognition as a leader in public school reform.

Boston has the distinction of being the first African-American superintendent of the Wicomico County Public Schools and the first African-American woman public school superintendent on Maryland's Eastern Shore. During her tenure as superintendent, she instituted significant changes in instructional delivery, enhanced the use of technology, and established job-embedded professional development as the norm. Such accomplishments had a positive impact on student achievement, with student performances on many measures exceeding national and state averages. She has received numerous awards and citations for her work in education, including being selected this year as a member of the District Leaders for Citizenship and Service Learning by the Education Commission of the States National Center for Learning and Citizenship.

Boston graduated from the University of Maryland in 1979 with her Ph.D. in elementary education. She also holds a master's and bachelor's degree awarded by Morgan State University in Baltimore, Md.

Outstanding Leader

Jon M. Andes

Jon M. Andes has demonstrated outstanding leadership throughout his career spanning the last 32 years. He entered the field as a social studies teacher in Harford County Public Schools System then served as Assistant Principal and Principal of Havre De Grace High School, which he led to become a National School of Excellence in 1990. In 1991, he was appointed Assistant Superintendent in Personnel in Harford County Public Schools.

After Andes was named Superintendent of Worcester County Public Schools in 1996, the System accrued a long list of accomplishments, including consistently high test scores and the recognition of three National Blue Ribbon Schools and six Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools. All schools are accredited by the Middle States Association. In 2001 he was named Maryland Superintendent of the Year, and in 2004 received the Maryland Minority Achievement Award. Recognized as a leader in the community as well as in his profession, he has also been honored with the National Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

Andes earned an Ed.D. in educational administration (1984) from the University of Maryland, and a M.Ed. in education and administration (1979) from Loyola College. In 1975, he was awarded a B.S. in secondary education comprehensive social studies from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.

Outstanding Professional Educator

Jean E. Lokerson

Jean E. Lokerson's education career actually began at the age of 21 months, when triplets were born into the Lokerson household. From those early days, she went on to teach in elementary and demonstration classrooms, and later pursued a doctoral degree at the University of Maryland.

During her 26-year career as a teacher educator with an intense interest in students with learning disabilities, both colleagues and students recognized that her experience and academic knowledge enhanced her work as a teacher educator at all levels. Her use of simulations, technology, and hands-on experiences has been recognized world-wide, and she is considered a pioneer in helping educators, employers, and parents understand and address the challenges of a disability. As a result, Lokerson has been in demand as an educational consultant and is a highly regarded presenter at national and international conferences.

A number of influential organizations have greatly benefited from her experience, including the Council for Exceptional Children and the Learning Disabilities Association, where she held various leadership roles. Lokerson developed a unique Teacher Educator Team stipend program, worked to strengthen certification standards, and became known as a strong advocate for improving the education of individuals with disabilities. Widely recognized for her public policy work, she is also a consultant to the U.S. Department of Education, working on establishing programs and policies that serve students with special needs in public and private schools.

An Associate Professor Emerita at Virginia Commonwealth University, Lokerson graduated from Maryland in 1970, earning her Ph.D. in special education with a minor in human development. She completed her master's degree at Syracuse University in 1965, and was awarded her undergraduate degree in elementary education (1959) from George Washington University.

Outstanding Professional Educator

Larry D. Roper

Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Professor of Ethnic Studies at Oregon State University, Larry D. Roper is a veteran of over 31 years in the field of college student affairs administration. He is highly regarded as a visionary leader, a skillful collaborator, and the epitome of a scientist-practitioner.

After completing his doctoral studies in College Student Personnel Administration at the University of Maryland in 1988, Roper served as Vice President and Dean of Students at St. John Fisher College and Beaver College. As a tenured professor at Oregon State University he chaired dozens of dissertation and thesis committees. He has also delivered over 120 papers, public lectures, and keynote speeches at such forums as the first National Conference on Leadership in Student Services held in South Africa, and the Student Affairs Leadership Global Perspective Institute in Salamanca, Spain.

Roper's professional and national leadership includes serving as editor of the Journal of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, and as chair of the student affairs council of the National Association of State University and Land Grant Colleges. He is a former commissioner with the National Commission on College and Universities and was a board member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Foundation. Among his many honors, in 2001 he received the Thomas Magoon Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Education's Department of Counseling and Personnel Services, and in 2006 was named Outstanding Dean in the United States by NASPA.

In addition to his Ph.D. from Maryland, Roper holds an M.A. from Bowling Green State University, Ohio (1976), and was awarded an A.B. from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio (1975).

Anthony G. Marchione

Dean's Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement
Anthony G. Marchione has held leadership positions in the Baltimore County Public Schools System for over 40 years, recently retiring as Superintendent of Schools. Throughout his tenure, his innovative leadership was a significant and positive force as he focused the school system on three goals—improving achievement for all students, maintaining a safe and orderly learning environment, and using resources effectively and efficiently. Since his retirement, he has assumed the role of Administrative Officer, providing leadership to 25 departments of the Baltimore County Government.

Marchione began his teaching career in 1955 at Golden Ring Junior High School, where he was appointed department chair of the Mathematics department after just two years. After almost a decade at North Point Junior High and Sparrows Point Senior High School, he began his doctoral studies in human relationship at the College of Education, graduating in 1972. For approximately 20 years, Marchione taught leadership courses at the University of Maryland, Loyola College, and Morgan State University. He also designed the course entitled, "Educational Leadership in Baltimore County," which was required of all supervisors and principals. He later established a formal performance review and appraisal process for administrative and supervisory personnel based upon these same skills and abilities. Throughout his years of formidable educational leadership and pervasive public service, Marchione has been a life-long learner and is a role-model for participatory education and decision-making.

Prior to earning his Ph.D., Marchione was awarded a master's degree in education (1959), also from Maryland. He received his bachelor's degree in 1955 from Towson University.

Outstanding New Professional

Scott Jackson Dantley

Scott Jackson Dantley is the new Dean of the College of Education and Professor of Science Education at Florida A&M University (FAMU), the sixth largest producer of African-American teachers in the United States. FAMU is one of 11 sites for the Teacher for a New Era Initiative supported by a $5 million Carnegie grant to reform teacher education.

Dantley was previously Acting Dean of the School of Education at Bowie State University where he oversaw numerous projects, including well known initiatives like the New Minority Male Health Project and Men Equipped to Nurture. He has participated in several accreditation activities for Middle States and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), as well as reviewed for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Education. He maintains active memberships in AERA, NARST, AACTE and RAMP and serves on the editorial board for the Journal of the Alliance of Black School Educators and the advisory board for Texas Southern University’s Minority Scholar/Champion Research Training Grant. Most recently, he was selected as a member of the Board of Examiners for NCATE.

With research interests covering African-American male achievement in science and mathematics, examining science policy, chemistry education, and assessment issues, Dantley is a well-published scholar and has presented his work at several national and international forums. He is currently co-principal investigator on two major grants totaling over $2 million through the NSF and National Institutes of Health: one focuses on recruiting and retaining more middle to high school teachers of color to become science teachers; the other project uses virtual technology to teach science to middle school children.

Dantley earned a doctoral (1999) and master’s (1998) degree in science education from the University of Maryland. In 1995, he was awarded a M.S. in professional chemistry from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and became ACS certified. Dantley previously attended George Washington University, graduating in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry/pre-medicine.

Outstanding Scholar

Richard Earl Hardy

Richard Earl Hardy served over 25 years as Chairman and then Professor Emeritus of the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling at the Medical College of Virginia until his retirement in 1996. Co-owner and Chief Clinical Psychologist for the Richmond Headache Center, his influence as a researcher and practitioner is highly recognized at the state and national levels.

As an outstanding professional and leader in the field of rehabilitation, Hardy has held a variety of government and professional appointments, sharing his vision and innovation with such organizations as the American Association for Counseling and Development, the American Psychological Association, and the National Rehabilitation Association. He served several terms as a National Chairperson on the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association's Licensure Policy Committee, contributing to development of the field and standards for practitioners. Hardy has conducted research and published extensively on the psychology of stress, the rehabilitation counseling profession, drug use, and rehabilitation programs for specific groups. Throughout his tenure, he secured approximately $6.5 million in grant funds. He is widely recognized throughout his field for his outstanding research efforts, community service, and practical approaches to intervention.

Hardy graduated from the University of Maryland with his Ed.D. in 1966. He was awarded a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University (1962), and holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1960).

Richard A. Duschl

Outstanding Scholar
Richard A. Duschl is a well known science educator, and widely respected scholar on the national and international stage. His research examines how the history and philosophy of science can be applied to science education, and explores the design of instructional sequences that promote assessment for learning.

Duschl's scholarship has been published in several U.S. and international journals on inquiry science teaching, learning, cognition, and assessment. In addition, through grant support from the National Science Foundation, his work has led to several new ideas regarding how formative assessment strategies can help learners and teachers make scientific thinking visible. Duschl is former chair of Science Education at King's College London and editor emeritus of Science Education journal. Among his various notable affiliations, he was a member of the NRC committee that authored the Inquiry Addendum for the National Science Education Standards and currently chairs the National Academies study committee, "Science Learning-Kindergarten through Eighth Grade."

Duschl earned both his Ph.D. in science education (1983) and B.S. in earth science education (1974) from the University of Maryland. He was awarded a M.A.T. in geology from Michigan State University in 1980.

Outstanding New Scholar

Stacey S. Horn

A recently tenured Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Stacey S. Horn's research on group exclusion and peer harassment in adolescence explores such issues as how adolescents reason in conflict situations between individuals' rights and group norms or social conventions. Her groundbreaking work has clear educational and policy implications for preventing harassment in schools, and has already been cited in textbooks and published in such notable journals as the International Journal of Behavioral Development, the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, and Equity and Excellence in Education.

In addition to her research activities, Horn instructs pre-and in-service teachers at UIC about adolescent development. She is also President of the governing board for the Coalition for Education on Sexual Orientation—a statewide coalition working to ensure all schools are safe for all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Her expert opinion has been featured on such shows as the O'Reilly Factor and on Chicago Public Radio as well. She has conducted a number of presentations and workshops for educators on peer bullying, and her work has received grant support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Wayne F. Placek Foundation of the American Psychological Foundation, and various other private foundations.

Horn graduated from the University of Maryland in 2000 with her doctoral degree in human development. She received a master's degree in teaching (1992) from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., and has a bachelor's degree in child development and English (1990) awarded by the University of Minnesota.

Outstanding New Scholar

Chris L. Rasmussen

After receiving his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland in 1985, Chris L. Rasmussen went on to teach secondary school mathematics for two years as a Peace Corp volunteer in Sierra Leone. Upon his return, he continued his studies at Maryland, earning a master's degree in mathematics in 1994 and a Ph.D. in mathematics education in 1997. In 1998 he received the prestigious Early Career Award from the National Science Foundation to study the learning and teaching of undergraduate mathematics.

Currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at San Diego State University, Rasmussen has focused his work on using differential equations as a prototype to investigate how approaches that have been successful at promoting student learning in earlier grade levels can be adapted to the university setting. He has authored student material for a first course in differential equations and is co-editor of a forthcoming book focusing on connecting research and practice in undergraduate mathematics education. Rasmussen has been invited to present his research at a number of national conferences and his scholarly work has been published in a variety of publications, including the Journal of Mathematical Behavior.

Described as a "professional catalyst" for his field, Rasmussen is recognized for his combination of scholarly productivity and professional leadership in the mathematics education research community. He has particularly earned high commendations for his work promoting the discipline in his role as Coordinator for the Special Interest Group of the Mathematical Association of America on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education (SIGMAA-RUME).

Carl Bryant

Outstanding Professional
As general manager of Personnel Decisions International's D.C. office, Carl Bryant is responsible for leading his company's development activities across the mid-Atlantic region. He brings a wealth of experience to this post, having served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, director of the U. S. Air Force Cadet Counseling Center, professor of Managerial Development at the Defense Systems Management College, and Vice President for Knowledge Management and Applied Technology at the Center for Creative Leadership.

Throughout his career, Bryant has assisted several organizations through the process of managing their growth and development issues successfully. Described as an expert coach and instructor, he has taught leadership classes worldwide in such countries as Australia, Belgium, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia, and was a featured speaker at the 2003 United Nations Leadership Conference in Istanbul, Turkey. He is also an accomplished researcher and published author, and held a supervisory role in the creation of a new refereed journal focusing on the development of better program managers.

Bryant earned his Ph.D. in 1984 from the University of Maryland, College Park. He received his master's degree from the University of North Dakota and holds a bachelor's degree awarded by the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore.

Lisa Bender

Alumni Teacher of the Year
Lisa Bender is a 19-year veteran teacher of Economics and Marketing Classes at Southern Garrett High School in Garrett County, Md. She was recently named one of seven finalists for the Maryland Teacher of the Year Award.

Selected to complete the 'Teach the Teacher' program at the New York Stock Exchange, Bender's financial literacy initiatives in her classroom have won honors and recognition from the Maryland Banker's Association. Her students have won the statewide stock market game sponsored by the Maryland Council on Economic Education on four occasions, and she has won the state investment competition twice. Her latest endeavor, The Entrepreneurial Heritage Project, partners her business students with local entrepreneurs so students can learn first-hand lessons about our free enterprise system. Her efforts led to her nomination by her principal for a national Leavey award from the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge.

An active leader in her school system, Bender has served as a teacher mentor, was a 10-year representative on her School Improvement Tea m, has authored grants to initiate projects, and presented best practices from her classroom at state and regional conferences. She has assisted in writing state curriculum, and served on the first team to write the standards for the new Service Learning graduation requirement.

Bender earned master's degrees in Education (1991) and Arts and Humanities-Speech (1990) from the University of Maryland.

Distinguished Service to the College of Education

Jean Mullan

Jean Mullan's devotion to the Terps is family centered, having a father who is also an alumnus of the University of Maryland. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from the College of Education in 1968, and was a classroom teacher for two years at Cherry Lane Elementary School in Prince George's County. She then moved to White Plains, N.Y., where she continued teaching second graders and also had her first son. Mullan went on to earn post-graduate credits and taught second, third and fourth grades. Over the next few years, her family moved to other states and welcomed another son before coming back to Maryland in 1997.

Upon her return to Maryland, Mullan took advantage of the opportunity to become personally involved with her alma mater. She served as President of the College of Education's Alumni Chapter Board of Directors from 2002 until July 2006. Under her leadership, the board focused on supporting college initiatives, planning and attending events, and encouraging participation as alumni association members. Rarely missing an opportunity to advocate for the College, she also represented the alumni chapter on the Board of Visitors for the College of Education and the Board of Governors for the University of Maryland Alumni Association. In 2003, as an illustration of her passionate belief that support for the College has a lasting and positive impact on the lives of children, she presented the College of Education with its largest private individual gift at the time.

Mullan is currently President of the College's Campaign Cabinet—a volunteer group of alumni and friends working to increase understanding and awareness of the value of investing in the college. She also recently designated a substantial leadership gift to support establishment of the College of Education's first endowed professorship.

Patricia Donofrio

Phi Delta Kappa Outstanding Mentor Teacher
Patricia Donofrio has dedicated many years to uplifting the lives of students through mentorship.

After graduating from St. Joseph's College in Brooklyn, N.Y. with a B.A. in Child Study and a minor in Sociology, she went on to earn a Master of Science in Education from Brooklyn College. She continued her studies at both San Jose State College in San Jose, Ca. and Trinity College in Washington D.C., and became certified as a reading teacher.

With an inspiring career that spans almost four decades, Donofrio just began her 17th year as a first-grade teacher at Kenilworth Elementary School in Bowie, Md. Among her many roles at Kenilworth, she is co-chair of the School Based Management Team, Grade Level Chair, and PTA liaison. On top of this, Donofrio generously contributes her time to the University of Maryland mentoring program, with which she has been very actively involved for over a decade.