College of Education welcomes new
members to Alumni Chapter Board of Directors

2008-09 ALUMNI CHAPTER BOARD: [front row, l. to r.] Holly Breault, Toni Ungaretti (President), Geordie Paulus, Pat Kinney, Krystle Massey, Mary Batcher, Darla Strouse, Shannon Ambush; [back row, l. to r.] Carla Malozowski-Kieval, Jennifer Hargar, Molly O'Neil, Tom Saunders (Treasurer), Jim DeGeorge (Vice President), Justin Fincher, Noel Farmer, Michele Zurad (Secretary) Not pictured: Jack Cole, Pierre Colombel, Charles Flatter, Melanie Folstad, Noah Jampol, James McGowan, Roberta Theis, Ebony Terrell Shockley

Jack N. Cole (Ph.D., '76) is a lifelong educator who has taught at high schools, universities, community colleges, prisons and commercial training organizations. Throughout his career, he prepared teachers, educators, business people, and learners of all types for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century. Currently he teaches management at The Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School. He is also a visiting assistant professor at Towson University's School of Education, where he works with teachers and educators in Secondary Education and the university's China Program. Active with many professional and educational organizations, Cole served in such capacities as supervisor of Reading Programs for Prince George's County Public Schools, consultant to the Baltimore/Washington Information System Educators' Association, and president of the State of Maryland International Reading Association Councils. He is a member of Towson University's Multicultural Institute Conference Planning Committee, and works with student learners at both The Johns Hopkins University and Towson University.

Noel T. Farmer (Ed.D., '85) has held many leadership positions in the state of Maryland, including serving as superintendent of Schools (Frederick County, Md.; 1987-93), associate superintendent (Howard County, Md.; 1985-87) and assistant superintendent (Howard County, Md.; 1978-85). In 2007, The Frederick Chamber of Commerce recognized him with the Life-Time Achievement Award for Excellence in Education in Frederick County. During his tenure as superintendent of the Frederick County Public Schools, the system's improvement in the Effective Schools Process resulted in it posting a stellar state record on the Maryland State Assessment System Program. Farmer's performance record has garnered him numerous recognitions. He was one of four national finalists in America's Superintendent of the Year (1993) and only one of two superintendents in Maryland to ever reach the finalist level in this national award process. From 1993-2006, he was an associate professor of Education at Hood College. During his tenure there he was the inaugural director of its M.S. degree program in Educational Leadership - a program that provides for state certification in the fields of K-12 administration for school-based principals. Farmer is currently an educational consultant.

Justin Fincher (M.Ed., '08) is associate director of Alumni Relations at The Johns Hopkins University. While a student at the College of Education he was part of several research teams, such as Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership - a national study of leadership development and college students. Very involved in professional associations, Fincher was recently elected to serve on the directorate for ACPA's (American College Personnel Association) Commission on Student Involvement. He was recognized previously by the Commission with an Outstanding Graduate Student award, and was honored at the 2008 College of Education Annual Awards Ceremony as Outstanding Master's Student. Fincher attributes much of his professional and personal growth to experiences during his time at Maryland, and is looking forward to giving his time and energy to this role and the college.

Charles H. Flatter (Ph.D., '68) is a professor emeritus in the Department of Human Development. In addition to directing over 100 doctoral dissertations, he served as assistant director of the Institute for Child Study, as associate chair and chair of the Department of Human Development, and most recently was a special consultant to the dean of the College of Education. Flatter served as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Education, for which he authored the curriculum model for drug prevention education. He was also an expert consultant to the Children's Television Workshop/Sesame Street for 25 years. The author of two parent information columns for magazines, Flatter developed many programs in parent education and numerous television productions for parents and adolescents. In addition, he co-authored several books including, Children: Their Growth and Development (Prentice-Hall) and Help Me Learn (McGraw-Hill).

Melanie Folstad (B.S., '92) has worked for over 12 years in the wealth management business. A financial advisor in the Mid-Atlantic region, she focuses on comprehensive wealth management planning, helping clients' develop solutions designed to pursue their financial goals. Previously, she worked with clients at academic and non-profit institutions as a wealth management advisor for TIAA-CREF. When she is not busy with work, Folstad is active in her children's schools as well as a number of neighborhood and other organizations, including The Greater Bethesda - Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce and the Chevy Chase West Neighborhood Association, of which she was vice-president. She is also a member of GROWS (Grass Roots Organization for the Welfare of Seniors) and serves on the board of the Lutheran Social Services of National Capital Area.

Jennifer Harger (B.S., '08) began officially working on behalf of the College of Education in spring 2005, when she was selected to serve as the Freshman Elementary Education Representative for the Undergraduate Student Assembly. In this role, she planned college-wide events such as the New Student Orientation, Ice Cream Social, and BRIDGE (Benefits and Resources in Developing Great Educators) Conference. She also facilitated the exchange of ideas between education majors and the dean. Harger remained active in the Undergraduate Student Assembly through her sophomore, junior and senior years. As a junior, she was admitted to the College of Education Honors Program, where she would later complete a collaborative thesis: Teacher's Use of Ethnically/Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies to Encourage Parent Involvement. As a senior she was awarded several top honors, including being named a Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar. Harger is an active member of Phi Kappa Phi, Primmanum, Kappa Delta Pi, Sigma Alpha Lambda and Alpha Omicron Pi. She graduated in May 2008 with Magna Cum Laude distinction.

Krystle Massey (B.S., '04) is a classroom teacher with Montgomery County Public Schools and acts as an advocate for parental involvement by creating such programs as the Parent Forum. After graduation, Massey remained involved with the college, serving as a mentor teacher for several College of Education student teachers. She also participates in the college's summer Professional Development Schools (PDS) programs. She has presented at a number of PDS conferences, instructing on topics such as parent involvement, and shares her experiences in summer planning meeting with principals and professors. Massey was a representative on the school leadership for two years, and also served on the hiring and selection committee.

Molly O'Neill (Undergraduate Student Representative) is a native Pennsylvanian and transfer student to the University of Maryland. She began working for the College of Education as the Transfer Representative for the Undergraduate Student Assembly, advocating for those students finding a new home at Maryland. As a member of the Undergraduate Student Assembly, she worked closely to plan college and campus wide events such as the New Student Orientation, Ice Cream Social, and most recently the College of Education movie night. This spring, O'Neill served on a committee to re-establish the Benefits and Resources in Developing Great Educators (BRIDGE) Conference, which brings together education majors from several local colleges and universities. She is also an advocate and voice for fellow students at monthly meetings with the dean. Over the years, O'Neill has grown to love international education and hopes to further that passion in the future. She previously spent time in El Salvador and most recently visited The Netherlands as participant of the inaugural study abroad program sponsored by the College of Education Alumni Chapter. Outside of the college, O'Neill serves on committees at the Catholic Student Center and held several different positions in her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi. This year she is working as a student intern at Rockledge Elementary School teaching first grade.

Geordie M. Paulus (M.Ed., '03) is a technology support teacher at Elkridge Landing Middle School where she works collaboratively with the principal and staff of Elkridge Landing on developing an appropriate technology program for the school. In addition, she plans and delivers technology professional development for school and county staff, and co-teaches with school staff on technology related projects. She also served as the interdisciplinary team leader for seventh grade, providing leadership for 15 staff members. Prior to her current position, Paulus was a social studies teacher and helped develop the curriculum and quarterly assessments for seventh grade World Geography. She has been involved in many Professional Development courses and training over her career, and even worked as a corporate meeting planner for Watson Wyatt Worldwide Global Human Capital Consulting Firm.

Ebony Terrell Shockley (Graduate Student Representative) is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction's Minority and Urban Education Program. She began her educational career in August of 1999, when she relocated to Maryland for graduate school and began teaching seventh-grade science in Adelphi, Md. After three years, she followed her students from middle to high school. During this time Shockley served as team leader, International Club sponsor, Science Bowl sponsor and a mentor in the FRIENDS program. In May 2006, her former seventh grade class graduated from high school and the following semester a large percentage of them became Terps! Shockley was a graduate assistant in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction's master's degree and teacher certification programs. She also served as a supervisory and mentor teacher for College of Education interns. Currently a regional coordinator with Prince George's County Public Schools, Shockley recently published The Pilot - a multilingual children's book.

These new members join the following individuals currently serving on the Alumni Chapter Board: Toni Ungaretti (President), Jim DeGeorge (Vice President), Tom Saunders (Treasurer), Michele Zurad (Secretary), Shannon Ambush, Mary Batcher, Holly Breault, Pierre Colombel, Noah Jampol, Carla Malozowski-Kieval, James McGowan, Pat Kinney, Darla Fishbein Strouse, and Roberta Theis.

If you are interested in working with the Alumni Chapter on initiatives to promote the College of Education and its graduates, please contact our director of Alumni Relations, Pat Costantino (Phone: 301.405.5607; Email: pmc4@umd.edu). If you cannot volunteer, then please stay connected by attending some of the alumni and College events hosted throughout the year (see the latest issue of Endeavors for a list of activities: www.education.umd.edu/infofor/alumni_friends/endeavors/).

Alumni are also encouraged to become a member of the University of Maryland Alumni Association. When you join, you receive a host of benefits (e.g., Terp gear discounts at association events, exclusive program invitations, etc.) and the College of Education Alumni Chapter gets a portion of the dues to advance its good work. To register, visit the UM Alumni Association web site: http://alumni.umd.edu. Signing up is as easy as saying, 'Go Terps!'