CEHD Newsletter, February 23, 2012 Please submit newsletter items to Laurie Juliana at (ljulian1@gmu.edu).

Faculty News

Margo Mastropieri (mmastrop@gmu.edu) joined a select group of Council for Exceptional Children members to participate in a meeting on February 22 at the White House with leaders from the White House Domestic Policy Council and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. Discussion focused on President Obama’s State of the Union Address and his fiscal year 2013 budget and initiatives related to children and youth with disabilities and their families. An article on the meeting from CEC’s Policy Insider can be accessed at

http://www.policyinsider.org/2012/02/cec-members-raise-top-special-education-issues-at-white-house-meeting.html?utm_source=CEC+Policy+Insider+-+February+22%2C+2012&utm_campaign=PI+Efficacy&utm_medium=email Mark Ginsberg (mginsber@gmul.edu) is one of 131 prominent education leaders who have formed the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences, whose purpose is to promote “cross-discipline recognition” of excellence in every sector of the education field. The academy will host the Bammy Awards (organized by BAM Radio Network) to recognize and celebrate excellence in education across the field. More information about the academy and the awards can be found at http://news.yahoo.com/131-education-luminaries-coalesce-around-simple-idea-form-173644801.html Mark Ginsberg (mginsber@gmul.edu) has been elected to the board of directors of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education for a three-year term from 2012–2015.

Amanda Caswell (aallen1@gmu.edu) was sworn in as the president of the Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association at the annual conference in Richmond on January 14. Shane V. Caswell (scaswell@gmu.edu) was honored as the Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association Researcher of the Year at the annual conference in Richmond on January 14.

John Reynolds, an adjunct faculty member in RHT, was honored as the Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association Secondary Schools Athletic Trainer of the Year at the annual conference in Richmond on January 14. Ian Rogol, an Approved Clinical Instructor in RHT, was honored as the Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association College/University Athletic Trainer of the Year at the annual conference in Richmond on January 14.

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Katy Swalwell (kswalwel@gmu.edu) won the AERA Division B-Curriculum Studies Outstanding Dissertation of the Year award for her dissertation titled “Social Justice Pedagogy With the Suburban and Urban Elite.” Katy graduated last May from the University of Wisconsin-

Madison and joined the CEHD faculty in August. Katy Swalwell (kswalwel@gmu.edu) presented “Studying the Labor Movement in the New Gilded Age,” a workshop for teachers at the National Council for the Social Studies annual conference in Washington, DC on December 4. Katy Swalwell (kswalwel@gmu.edu) presented “Bursting the Bubble and

Disturbing the Comfortable: Two Approaches to Multicultural Education With Affluent Youth” at the National Association of Multicultural Education Conference in Chicago on December 3. Seth Parsons (sparson5@gmu.edu), Jacquelynn Malloy (Anderson University), Allison Ward Parsons (award12@gmu.edu), and Sarah Cohen Burrowbridge (Lynbrook Elementary School) presented the paper, “Student Engagement in Literacy Tasks” at the annual meeting of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers on November 4 in Richmond. Seth Parsons (sparson5@gmu.edu) and doctoral student Leslie La Croix (llacroix@masonlive.gmu.edu) presented the paper, “The Vision Statements of Teachers From Two Different Preparation Programs,” at the annual meeting of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers on November 4 in Richmond. Seth Parsons (sparson5@gmu.edu), Jacquelynn Malloy (Anderson University), Allison Ward Parsons (award12@gmu.edu), and Sarah Cohen Burrowbridge (Lynbrook Elementary School) presented the paper, “A Formative Study of Student Engagement in Integrated Literacy and Social Studies Tasks,” at the Literacy Research Association Annual Conference on November 30 in Jacksonville, FL. Seth Parsons (sparson5@gmu.edu), Allison Ward Parsons (award12@gmu.edu), and Leila Richey presented the paper, “Year 1 of a Collaborative, Longitudinal Professional Development Project,” at the Literacy Research Association Annual Conference on December 1 in Jacksonville, FL. Seth Parsons (sparson5@gmu.edu), Jacquelynn Malloy (Anderson University), and doctoral student Leslie La Croix (llacroix@masonlive.gmu.edu) presented the paper “Exploring Teachers’ Visions and Their Adaptive Teaching: A Longitudinal Study” at the Literacy Research Association Annual Conference on December 2 in Jacksonville, FL.

Erin Peters Burton (epeters1@gmu.edu) presented “The Use of Clinical Interviews to Develop In-Service Secondary Science Teachers’ Nature of Science Knowledge and Assessment of Student NOS Knowledge” on January 5 at the Association of Science Teacher Education conference held in Clearwater, FL.

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Jatin P. Ambegaonkar (jambegao@gmu.edu), Nelson Cortes (ncortes@gmu.edu), and Shruti J. Ambegaonkar (sambegao@gmu.edu), with Charles Redmond, Christa Winter, Brian Thompson, and Susan Guyer from Springfield College, published “Ankle Stabilizers Affect Agility but Not Vertical Jump or Dynamic Balance Performance” in Foot and Ankle Specialist, 4(6), 366–72.

D. Krasnow, Jatin P. Ambegaonkar (jambegao@gmu.edu), S. Stecyk, G. Wilmerding, M. Wyon, and Y. Koutedakis published “Development of a Dynamometer Anchoring System for Collection of Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contractions in Biomechanics Research on Dancers” in Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 26(4), 185–194.

A. S. Long, Jatin P. Ambegaonkar (jambegao@gmu.edu), and P. M. Fahringer published “Injury Reporting Rates and Injury Concealment Patterns Differ Between High-School Cirque Performers and Basketball Players” in Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 26(4), 200–205. Jatin P. Ambegaonkar (jambegao@gmu.edu) and Shane V. Caswell (scaswell@gmu.edu) published “Development and Implementation of an In-House Healthcare Program for University-Level Performing Artists” in Work, 40(3), 261–8. Kristien Zenkov (kzenkov@gmu.edu) presented a paper titled “Seeing Culturally Relevant Literacy Practices” as part of the symposium, Adolescents as Informants for Relevant Literacy Practices. The paper was presented in November at the 2011 Literacy Research Association Annual Conference in Jacksonville, FL.

Kristien Zenkov (kzenkov@gmu.edu) presented a paper titled “‘I Know My Brother and He Is Good’: The Ethics of Collaborating With English Language Learners to Write About Their ‘Difficult Stories’” in the alternative format session, Caring and Justice: Ethical Issues in Collaborative Writing and Publication, at the 2011 Literacy Research Association Annual Conference in November in Jacksonville, FL.

Kristien Zenkov (kzenkov@gmu.edu) is lead author on a paper presented by Mason doctoral students Athene Bell (abell5@masonlive.gmu.edu) and Megan Lynch (mfell@masonlive.gmu.edu) titled “Picturing Relevant Writing Practices: Using Photography to See How Writing Curricula and Pedagogies Matter to Urban Youth.” The presentation took place in November at the 2011 National Council of Teachers of English Annual Conference that was held in Chicago.

Yoosun Chung (ychung3@gmu.edu) delivered an invited keynote at George Mason University on November 29 titled “Miracles Do Not Come Miraculously” at a meeting of the Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society, the first and only honor society in the country established specifically to recognize the academic accomplishments of college and university students with disabilities. The purpose of the meeting was to initiate new members.

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Joe Maxwell (jmaxwell@gmu.edu) has published the book, A Realist Approach for Qualitative Research, which argues for the value of a critical realist perspective for qualitative theory and practice, with two detailed examples from Joe’s own research.

The book is published by Sage Publications. Joe Maxwell (jmaxwell@gmu.edu) published “Paradigms or toolkits? Philosophical and Methodological Positions as Heuristics for Mixed Methods Research” in the Mid-Western Educational Researcher, 24(2), 27–30.

Joe Maxwell (jmaxwell@gmu.edu) published a review of Keith Morrison’s book, Causation in Educational Research, in the International Journal of Research and Method in Education, 34(1), 109–111. Beverly Shaklee (bshaklee@gmu.edu) served as the keynote presenter for the Fairfax County Public Schools’ International Baccalaureate Summit on December 14. Her presentation was titled “Reflecting Best Practices.” Beverly Shaklee (bshaklee@gmu.edu) attended the Board of Trustees meeting for the Alliance for International Education in London on January 25. Beverly Shaklee (bshaklee@gmu.edu) presented at the Council for International Schools’ Annual Recruitment Fair in London, held from January 26–28. The conference brings together directors from over 300 international schools. The title of Bev’s workshop was “Recruiting for the Future.”

Beverly Shaklee (bshaklee@gmu.edu) gave two presentations on February 1 and 2 to the Chinese high school principals’ delegation. The presentations were titled “International Education in CEHD” and, along with Pam Baker (pbaker5@gmu.edu), “Exceptional Students.” The delegation of 22 high school principals was hosted by the Center for International Education in conjunction with the Global and International Strategies Office.

Rita Chi-Ying Chung (rchung@gmu.edu) and Fred Bemak (fbemak@gmu.edu) have published a book titled Social Justice Counseling: The Next Steps Beyond Multiculturalism. he book is published by Sage Publications.

Fred Bemak (fbemak@gmu.edu) and Rita Chi-Ying Chung (rchung@gmu.edu) published an article titled “Applications in Social Justice Counselor Training: Classroom Without Walls” in the Journal of Humanistic Counseling. Fred Bemak (fbemak@gmu.edu), Rita Chi-Ying Chung

(rchung@gmu.edu), and doctoral student Diana Ortiz (dortiz1@masonlive.gmu.edu) presented “Applications in Multicultural Social Justice Counselor Training: Classroom Without Walls” at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision National Conference in Nashville.

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Rachael Goodman (rgoodma2@gmu.edu), Regine Talleyrand Abrams (rtalleyr@gmu.edu), Rita Chi-Ying Chung (rchung@gmu.edu), Fred Bemak (fbemak@gmu.edu), George McMahon (hmcmaho3@gmu.edu), and Joseph Williams

(jwilli32@gmu.edu) gave a presentation on the Counseling and Development program at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision National Conference in Nashville. The presentation was titled “Developing Social Justice/Multicultural Counselors: Data From Student Exit Surveys and Implications for Counselor Education.”

Rita Chi-Ying Chung (rchung@gmu.edu), Fred Bemak (fbemak@gmu.edu), and doctoral students Diana Ortiz (dortiz1@masonlive.gmu.edu) and Amy Gleason Carroll (acarrol9@masonlive.gmu.edu) presented “Creative Experiential Techniques in Training Multicultural Social Justice Counselors” at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision National Conference in Nashville. Fred Bemak (fbemak@gmu.edu) was the invited keynote speaker for the Interpreter Planning Partnership Legal Services of Northern Virginia Annual Conference held in December in Annandale. His presentation was titled “Psychosocial Issues Affecting Immigrants and Refugees.”

Anastasia P. Samaras (asamaras@gmu.edu) has been selected for a Fulbright Specialist grant in education at the University of Ioannina, Greece where she will share her self-study scholarship with teacher education students and faculty. Anastasia P. Samaras (asamaras@gmu.edu) has been invited as a self-study scholar to Durban, South Africa with her colleague, Mieke Lunenberg, from Vrije University in Amsterdam. The work in South Africa is a grant-funded

self-study project, Transformative Education/al Studies (TES), with three universities (Durban University of Technology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, and Walter Sisulu University). Participants are students who are pursuing master’s and doctoral studies through self-study of their practice in higher education across various disciplines and their academic supervisors. TES aims to enhance and study the development of self-reflexive pedagogic, research and supervision capacity among these participants.

Several CEHD faculty members collaborated with Mason colleagues from other schools and colleges to give a presentation on October 3 at George Mason University’s Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference, sponsored by the Center for Teaching Excellence. “A Faculty Teaching Salon: Artfully Scientific” was presented by Kirk Borne (College of Science); Lynne Constantine (School of Art); Ilham Nasser (inasser@gmu.edu); Laurie Harmon (lharmon3@gmu.edu); Seth Parsons (sparson5@gmu.edu); Esperanza Roman-Mendoza (College of Humanities and Social Sciences); Anastasia Samaras (asamaras@gmu.edu);

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Lesley Smith (New Century College); Toni Smith (tsmith10@gmu.edu), who organized the presentation; Jennifer Suh (jsuh4@gmu.edu); Ryan Swanson (College of Education and Social Sciences); and Louisa Woodville (Art History). Each of the presenters participated in the Scholars of Studying Teaching Collective (SoSTC), a program facilitated by Anastasia Samaras

and sponsored by the Center for Teaching Excellence, whereby they each conducted a self-study of their teaching. The members subsequently presented the methodology and results of their self-studies. The group is also conducting a “meta” self-study of their experience in the program.

Luanne Norden (lnorden@gmu.edu), Cindy Schendel of Shenandoah University, and William Thomson of Longwood University gave a presentation titled “Supervising a Student Teacher: Understanding the Expectations” on November 11 at the Virginia Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Convention in Reston.

Anya Evmenova (aevmenov@gmu.edu) presented “Adapting Academic Videos for Students With Disabilities with ACTIV Tool” at the Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference held in Orlando from January 25–28. Anya Evmenova (aevmenov@gmu.edu) and Cindy George (cgeorge4@gmu.edu) presented “AIM-VA Research & Practice: Using AIM Effectively in the Classroom” at the Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference held in Orlando from January 25–28. Anya Evmenova (aevmenov@gmu.edu) presented “Changing Attitudes About Assistive Technology Through Positive Hands-on Experiences” at the Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference held in Schaumburg/Chicago from on November 3–5.

Anya Evmenova (aevmenov@gmu.edu) and Michael Behrmann (mbehrman@gmu.edu) presented “Learning Academic Content Through Adapted and Interactive Videos” at the Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference held in Minneapolis from October 12–14.

Anya Evmenova (aevmenov@gmu.edu) conducted a webinar titled “Data Collection” on September 15 for the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America.

Nada Dabbagh (ndabbagh@gmu.edu) and Anastasia Kitsantas (akitsant@gmu.edu) published an article in The Internet and Higher Education, 15(1), 3–8, titled “Personal Learning Environments, Social Media, and Self-Regulated Learning: A Natural Formula for Connecting Formal and Informal Learning.” The article is available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2011.06.002

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Kelley Regan (kregan@gmu.edu) and doctoral student Kim Michaud (kmichaud@masonlive.gmu.edu) published “Best Practices to Support Student Behavior” in Beyond Behavior, 20(2), 40–47. Rob Smith (rsmithx@gmu.edu) and Sharon Skeans, Texas director of professional development for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, co-authored two articles. The first, “Using Program Evaluation to Support Academic Excellence,” was published online by the Informed Educator series and can

be retrieved from the Educational Research Service at: http://www.edreadysearch.org. The second article, “Seeing the Whole: Seven Decision Points When You Plan a Program Evaluation in Your School District,” was published in The School Administrator, 68(11), 34–37 and can be accessed at http://www.aasa.org/SchoolAdministratorArticle.aspx?id=21160. In both pieces the authors describe a process for systematic program evaluation in school districts that they first used in the Spring Independent School District in the Houston area that Rob later applied in the Arlington Public Schools and Sharon

applied in her work as an independent consultant in Texas. The authors also made a presentation on January 30 in Austin, TX at the Texas Association of School Administrators Mid-Winter Conference on the same topic, and they will make a similar presentation on February 27 at the AdvancED Virginia Winter Conference in Williamsburg. Rob Smith (rsmithx@gmu.edu) spoke about his book, Gaining on the Gap: Changing Hearts, Minds, and Practice, on February 17 at the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) National Conference. An article on the talk can be found in the AASA Conference Daily at http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=22210 Betsy Levine Brown (ebrown11@gmu.edu) and Jane Pizzolato from the University of California, Los Angeles published a book chapter titled “Purpose Plus: Supporting Youth Purpose, Control, and Academic Achievement” in an issue on Youth Purpose in New Directions for Youth Development.

Sheryl Asen (sasen@gmu.edu) was invited by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) to participate in a think-tank project focusing on math and literacy Common Core State Standards, a technical application for teacher access to lessons addressing these standards, and related professional development. The project, that included 12 members from around the United States, occurred at ASCD headquarters in Alexandria on December 7 and 8.

David Anderson (danderso@gmu.edu) presented a mini-institute at the Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention and Intervention Conference sponsored by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators in Atlanta from January 19–21. David conducted “Winning Strategies: Effective Integration of AOD Prevention With Athletics and Student Affairs” with Mary Wilfert of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He also co-presented, with Virginia Commonwealth University’s Kristen Kidd Donovan, a workshop titled “Experts in Your Own Backyard: Building a Statewide Consortium of AOD Professionals” that highlighted their work with the Virginia College Alcohol Leadership Council

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(www.vacalc.org). In addition, David led a two-hour session with 50 grantees of the NCAA regarding their efforts to promote alcohol abuse prevention on campus, emphasizing resources developed by the Center for the Advancement of Public Health, including “Best of CHOICES” and the “IMPACT Evaluation Resource.”

Jim Kozlowski (jkozlows@gmu.edu) published an article titled “Park ‘Occupation’ and the Constitution” in Parks & Recreation, 47(2), 33–38. Jim Kozlowski (jkozlows@gmu.edu) published an article titled “Private Property Mineral Rights Under State Parks” in Parks & Recreation, 47(1), 19–22.

Jim Kozlowski (jkozlows@gmu.edu) published an article titled “Job Offer Rescinded for Hearing-Impaired Lifeguard” in Parks & Recreation, 46(12), 33–37. Diana D’Amico (ddamico2@gmu.edu) has been named a finalist in the Politics of Education Association’s Outstanding Dissertation competition for her dissertation, “Claiming Profession: The Dynamic Struggle for Teacher Professionalism in the Twentieth Century.”

George Mason University Student Ambassadors of Civility were named during Mason Civility Days in November. Pictured are Mason Instructor of Civility Leslie Morton (lmorton1@gmu.edu) and Ellen Rodgers (erodger1@gmu.edu), who presented the group of students with their certificates and medals. Leslie Morton (lmorton1@gmu.edu) served as a distinguished judge on

November 26 for the Miss District of Columbia USA Pageant in Washington, DC. The event serves to select a deserving young woman to represent the nation’s capital at the Miss USA Pageant and to promote tourism and events for the District each year. Leslie Morton (lmorton1@gmu.edu) presented two sessions at the Emerging Young Leaders workshop on November 19. The workshop was sponsored by the Omicron Iota Chapter of Alpha Kappa Sorority, Inc. Leslie Morton (lmorton1@gmu.edu) spoke to regional administrators, educators, and staff during an area training session on “Professionalism and Civility” at Kiddie College Learning Center held in Springfield on November 29.

Leslie Morton (lmorton1@gmu.edu) was a guest speaker at the Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association (VATA) on January 13. Morton spoke to collegiate athletic trainers throughout the Commonwealth on the importance of civility in the workplace. Pictured with Leslie is Amanda Caswell (aallen1@gmu.edu), VATA president.

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Bill Brozo (wbrozo@gmu.edu) presented “New Perspectives on Disciplinary Literacy” as a member of a symposium at the American Reading Forum in Sanibel, FL on December 9. Bill Brozo (wbrozo@gmu.edu) gave a presentation to Fairfax County Public Schools Cluster VIII administrators on December 14. His presentation was titled “Helping Boys Become Engaged and Competent Readers.” Bill Brozo (wbrozo@gmu.edu) published “Reading to Build Knowledge for Disciplinary Learning” for the International Reading Association Engage website on November 29. Bill Brozo (wbrozo@gmu.edu) has become a consulting author of Pearson ILit, a digitally delivered program for struggling adolescent readers. Other consulting authors include Kelly Gallagher and Sharon Vaughn. Elavie Ndura-Ouédraogo (endura@gmu.edu) and Burundi colleagues Apollinaire Bangayimbaga and Vincent Bandeba published an invited book chapter titled “Reclaiming

Ubuntu Through Multicultural Education: A Foundation for Peacemaking in the African Great Lakes Region” in Peacemaking: From Practice to Theory. The book is edited by Susan Allen Nan, Zachariah Cherian Mampilly, and Andrea Bartoli and is published by Praeger. Elavie Ndura-Ouédraogo (endura@gmu.edu) moderated an invited panel presentation featured at the African Great Lakes Policy Forum titled “Land

Conflict in Burundi, Lessons Learned, and New Challenges.” The forum was organized by Search for Common Ground and was held on February 9 in Washington, DC. The Barbados Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, in association with the Barbados Association of Reading, hosted Vicky Spencer (vspencer@gmu.edu) from February 18 to March 2. The visit is sponsored by the United States Embassy’s Fulbright Specialist Program. A link to the article is http://www.gisbarbados.gov.bb/index.php?categoryid=15&p2_articleid=7433#.T0LxJr7BqqM.gmail

PhD Students

Doctoral student Lauren Serpati (lserpati@masonlive.gmu.edu) and Ashlee Loughan of Walden University were awarded the Best of JURE (Junior Researchers) Award for their research paper titled “Teacher Perceptions of NeuroEducation” at the Junior Researchers of EARLI conference held at the University of Exeter, UK from August 30 to September 3. Adam Bigbee (abigbee1@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended his doctoral dissertation on November 29 titled “Personal Values, Professional Codes of Ethics, and Ethical Dilemmas in Special Education Leadership.” Committee members are Susan Bon (sbon@gmu.edu), chairperson, Earle Reybold (ereybold@gmu.edu), and Margo Mastropieri (mmastrop@gmu.edu).

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Mary Jane McIlwain (mmcilwai@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended her doctoral dissertation titled “Dialogic Buddy Reading: Fidelity, Vocabulary, Sustainability” on December 7. Committee members are Steve White (cwhite1@gmu.edu), chairperson, Susan Burns (mburn2@gmu.edu), and Ana Taboada (ataboad1@gmu.edu). Maria Cruz (mcruz5@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended her doctoral dissertation titled “Student and Teacher Perceptions of a Mobile-Based Biology Vocabulary Study Tool for English Language Learners” on January 30. Committee members are Bill Brozo (wbrozo@gmu.edu), chairperson, Allison Ward Parsons (award12@gmu.edu), and Joe Maxwell (jmaxwell@gmu.edu). Lauren Bonnet (lbonnet@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended her doctoral dissertation proposal on November 30 titled “The Effects of Point-of-View Video Modeling on Symbolic Play Actions and Play Associated Language Utterances in Preschoolers With Autism.” Committee members are Pam Baker (pbaker5@gmu.edu), chairperson, Anna Evmenova (aevmenov@gmu.edu), and Vicky Spencer (vspencer@gmu.edu). Wendy Young (worneryo@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended her doctoral dissertation proposal on December 22 titled “Investigating Practicing Head Start Teachers’ Beliefs About Language and Literacy Practices for English Language Learners (ELLS).” Committee members are Steve White (cwhite1@gmu.edu), chairperson, Gary Galluzzo (ggalluzz@gmu.edu), and Gail Ritchie. Reema Alsweel (ralsweel@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended her doctoral dissertation proposal on December 5 titled “The Impact of English as a Second Language on Saudi Women’s Roles and Identities.” Committee members are Marjorie Hall Haley (mhaley@gmu.edu), chairperson, Earle Reybold (ereybold@gmu.edu), and Ilham Nasser (inasser@gmu.edu). Larissa Lemp (llemp@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended her doctoral dissertation proposal on December 15 titled “A Comparative Study of the Impact of an Online Physics Course on the Student Acquisition of Physics Content Knowledge and Skills, Understanding of the Nature of Science, and on Student Attitudes About Science.” Committee members are Priscilla Norton (pnorton@gmu.edu), chairperson, Gary Galluzzo (ggalluzz@gmu.edu), and Margret Hjalmarson (mhjalmar@gmu.edu). Marilyn Scholl (mscholl@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended her doctoral dissertation proposal titled “What About the Dads: A Case Study of Fathers of Babies Born to Adolescent Mothers in the Caring Equation Fatherhood Program” on January 12. Committee members are David Brazer (sbrazer@gmu.edu), chairperson, Anastasia Kitsantas (akitsant@gmu.edu), and Priscilla Norton (pnorton@gmu.edu). Amanda Wilder (awilder@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended her doctoral dissertation proposal titled “The Implications of Second Servings and a La Carte Options in the National School Lunch Program on Childhood Obesity” on January 17. Committee members are Penelope Earley (pearley@gmu.edu), chairperson, Anastasia Samaras (asamaras@gmu.edu), and James Upperman (jupperma@gmu.edu).

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Sydney Snyder (ssnyder5@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended her doctoral dissertation proposal titled “A Qualitative Study of Unauthorized Young Adults Coming of Age in Virginia” on January 19. Committee members are Jorge Osterling (josterli@gmu.edu), chairperson, Earle Reybold (ereybold@gmu.edu), and Scott Bauer (sbauer1@gmu.edu). T. Kevin McGowan (tmcgowa3@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended his doctoral dissertation proposal on January 19 titled “Head Start Teacher Attitudes, Emergent Literacy, Inclusion, and Critical Disability Theory.” Committee members are Julie Kidd (jkidd@gmu.edu), chairperson, Susan Burns (mburn2@gmu.edu), and Elizabeth DeMulder (edumulde@gmu.edu). Samita Arora (sarora6@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended her doctoral dissertation proposal on January 19 titled “Leadership in Early Childhood Special Education.” Committee members are David Brazer (sbrazer@gmu.edu), chairperson, Julie Kidd (jkidd@gmu.edu), and Joe Maxwell (jmaxwell@gmu.edu). Amanda Hartigan (ahartig1@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended her doctoral dissertation proposal titled “Using Cognitive Interviewing to Assess Primary Students’ Perceptions of Classroom Goal Structures.” Committee members are Michelle Buehl (mbuehl@gmu.edu), chairperson, Margo Mastropieri (mmastrop@gmu.edu), and Gail Ritchie. Venkata Patnam (vpatnam@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended his doctoral dissertation proposal on January 24 titled “How Does the U.S. Compare With Other Countries in Student Achievement in Mathematics?” Committee members are Margret Hjalmarson (mhjalmar@gmu.edu), chairperson, Dimiter Dimitrov (ddimitro@gmu.edu), and Jennifer Suh (jsuh4@gmu.edu). Steven Hall (shallm@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended his doctoral dissertation proposal on January 26 titled “An Examination of Administrative Behaviors That Impact Technology Integration.” Committee members are Priscilla Norton (pnorton@gmu.edu), chairperson, Joe Maxwell (jmaxwell@gmu.edu), and Dawn Hathaway (dhathawa@gmu.edu). Jugnu Agrawal (jagrawal@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended her doctoral dissertation proposal on January 30 titled “Effects of Computer-Assisted Video Modeling Instruction on Fraction Skills of Students With Autism.” Committee members are Pam Baker (pbaker5@gmu.edu), chairperson, Margo Mastropieri (mmastrop@gmu.edu), and Mike Behrmann (mbehrman@gmu.edu). Tamara Genarro (tgenarro@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended her doctoral dissertation proposal on February 9 titled “Parents as Teachers: Toward Improving the Print Handwriting of Adolescents With Autism.” Committee members are Ted Hoch, co-chairperson, (thoch@gmu.edu), Susan Burns (mburn2@gmu.edu), co-chairperson, and Anna Evmenova (aevmenov@gmu.edu). Brittany Hott (bhott@masonlive.gmu.edu) defended her doctoral dissertation proposal on February 2 titled “Effects of Response Options on the Math Performance and Participation of Secondary Students With Emotional or Behavioral Disorders.” Committee members are Rick

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Brigham (fbrigham@gmu.edu), co-chairperson, Peggy King-Sears (mkingsea@gmu.edu), co-chairperson, and Margo Mastropieri (mmastrop@gmu.edu).

Program News

The Kinesiology Program at George Mason University recently became one of 57 programs in colleges and universities in the United States, and only the second program in the state of Virginia, to achieve recognition status by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Acceptance into the Education Recognition Program means that an academic institution’s educational program has met, and continues to meet, educational criteria established by the NSCA.

Grants/Proposals

George Mason University and George Washington University have formed a partnership to conduct an NSF-funded study titled “Multiple Instrumental Case Studies of Inclusive STEM-Focused High Schools: Opportunity Structures for Preparation and Inspiration (OSPrI).” Erin Peters Burton (epeters1@gmu.edu) is the co-principal investigator on the project that will look at 12 high schools from around the country, particularly those that attract underrepresented minority students, to develop a database of effective models and practices. The researchers will also compare indicators of success in the STEM-focused schools with those of comprehensive high schools in the same jurisdictions. A story on the project can be accessed at http://news.gmu.edu/articles/8241 Farnoosh Shahrokhi (fshahrok@gmu.edu) received an award in the amount of $179,949 titled “IREX/USDOS/TEA” (Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program) funded by the Department of State’s Education and Cultural Affairs Bureau. The grant is a result of a longtime collaboration between the Education Leadership program and the Center for International Education under the leadership of Beverly Shaklee (bshaklee@gmu.edu). TEA provides secondary school teachers from Europe, Central and South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Near East, and the Western Hemisphere with unique opportunities to develop expertise in their subject areas, enhance their teaching skills, and increase their knowledge about the United States. On February 6, 22 international teachers from 16 different countries arrived on Mason’s campus to participate in a six-week professional development program that includes an internship at secondary schools in Fairfax County. Participants also benefit from trips to U.S. cultural sites and visits to faculty homes. Other faculty involved in the project include Supriya Baily (sbaily1@gmu.edu), Rachel Grant (rgrant4@gmu.edu), Priscilla Norton (pnorton@gmu.edu), Dawn Hathaway (dhathawa@gmu.edu), and Beverly Woody (bwoody@gmu.edu). Mike Behrmann (mbehrman@gmu.edu) received an award from the Virginia Department of Education titled “VA DoED/U.S. DoED/AIM – VA FY12” in the amount of $1,440,000.

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Mike Behrmann (mbehrman@gmu.edu) received an award from the Virginia Department of Education titled “T/TAC Main FY 2011” in the amount of $2,295,450. Kelley Regan (kregan@gmu.edu) and Pam Baker (pbaker5@gmu.edu) received an award in the amount of $129,951 from the Virginia Department of Education titled “VADoED/ Traineeship Special Education Region 4 FY12.” Kelley Regan (kregan@gmu.edu) and Pam Baker (pbaker5@gmu.edu) received an award modification in the amount of $68,772 from the Virginia Department of Education titled “VADoED/USDoEd/Distance Model Special Education.” Kelley Regan (kregan@gmu.edu) and Pam Baker (pbaker5@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal for $233,052 to the Virginia Department of Education titled “A State-Wide Distance Model for Training Special Education Personnel.” Kim Sheridan (ksherida@gmu.edu), Supriya Baily (sbaily1@gmu.edu), and Kristien Zenkov (kzenkov@gmu.edu) were awarded a Creative Award grant from George Mason’s Office of the Provost for $4,000 for a project titled “Artistic Inquiry and the Social Contract of Schooling: Picturing What School Means to U.S. and Haitian Youth and Teachers.” The goal of the project is to study U.S. and Haitian youths’ and future teachers’ perspectives on school using photo elicitation methods and a Web-based social network. Robert Baker (rbaker2@gmu.edu), Craig Esherick (cesheric@gmu.edu), and Pam Baker (pbaker5@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal for $1,178,951 to the U.S. Department of State titled “Sport Diplomacy Initiative: ECA Sports Youth Visitor Program.” Pam Baker (pbaker5@gmu.edu), Robert Baker (rbaker2@gmu.edu), and Craig Esherick (cesheric@gmu.edu), submitted a proposal for $1,133,335 to the U.S. Department of State titled “Empowering Women and Girls Through Sport: Women Using Sport for Achievement (WUSA).” Robert Baker (rbaker2@gmu.edu), Craig Esherick (cesheric@gmu.edu), and Pam Baker (pbaker5@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal for $318,389 to the U.S. Department of State titled “Basketball as a Vehicle for Cultural Exchange in Brazil.” Beverly Shaklee (bshaklee@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal for $30,000 to the Longview Foundation titled “LOI: Internationalizing Advanced Teacher Preparation Programs.” Barry Liner and Beverly Shaklee (bshaklee@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal for $1,270,001 to the U.S. Agency for International Development titled “Indonesia-US Partnership in Civil Engineering Education.” Jennifer Suh (jsuh4@gmu.edu), Padmanabhan Seshaiyer, Nathalia Peixoto, Toni Smith (tsmith10@gmu.edu), and Margret Hjalmarson (mhjalmar@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal for $449,162 to the National Science Foundation. The title of the proposal is “DRK-12: eSTeM—

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Expeditions in Science, Technology, and Engineering Education Through Mathematics in the Middle Grades (grades 5-8).” Padmanabhan Seshaiyer and Jennifer Suh (jsuh4@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal to the Virginia Department of Education for $247,997 titled “Mathematics and Science Partnership Program—Grades K-12.” Heidi Graff (hgraff@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal for $6,000 to the HSC Foundation titled “Leap Award Year 3.” Lynne Schrum (lschrum@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal to Fairfax County Public Schools for $97,346 titled “George Mason University Elementary PDS Internship Program—Fairfax County Public Schools.” Michelle Van Lare (mvanlare@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal for $196,708 titled “Pathways to Success” to Georgetown University. Kelly Schrum and Erin Peters Burton (epeters1@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal for $1,299,423 to the National Science Foundation titled “Full-Scale Development: Girls Regulating Learning in Computer Science (GIRLS).” Len Annetta (lannetta@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal titled “Serious Educational Games With Augmented Reality for Youth (SEGWAY)” to the State University of New York for $1,585,485. Len Annetta (lannetta@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal titled “EXP: MOLE-Movement of Learning Experience” to the National Science Foundation for $518,828. Anthony Kelly (akelly1@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of Education titled “IPA U.S. Department of Education” for $204,200. David Anderson (danderso@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal titled “Evaluation of Community Young Adult Drinking and Driving Prevention” to the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County for $41,657. Mike Behrmann (mbehrman@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal to the Virginia Department of Education for $267,564 titled “Consortium of Institutions of Higher Education in Virginia in Visual Impairments FY 2012.” Mike Behrmann (mbehrman@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal to the Virginia Department of Education for $388,571 titled “Training for Teachers of Students With Severe Disabilities FY12.” Kim Sheridan (ksherida@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for $80,406 titled “Learning in the Making: Studying and Designing Makerspaces.”

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Libby Hall (lhall4@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal for $59,505 to American Institutes for Research titled “The Study of Promising Teacher Preparation Programs.” Libby Hall (lhall4@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal for $171,471 to the Virginia Department of Education titled “Virginia College/University Partnership Laboratory School Planning Grant.” Seth Parsons (sparson5@gmu.edu), Allison Ward Parsons (award12@gmu.edu), and Stephanie Dodman (sdodman@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal for $48,205 to the Spencer Foundation. The proposal is titled “Collaborative Advancement of Reading Education (CARE): A School-University Partnership in an Urban Charter School.” Nelson Cortes (ncortes@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal to Old Dominion University for $38,198 titled “Effect of Balance Training on Posture, Falls, and Daily Activity in Older Adults.” Katy Swalwell (kswalwel@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for $9,157 titled “Teaching Through Turmoil: A Study of Classroom Practices Amidst Political Upheaval.” John Nauright (jnaurigh@gmu.edu) and David Wiggins (dwiggin1@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal to the French American Cultural Exchange Foundation for $957,891 titled “Sport for Intercultural Understanding and Community Engagement.” Maggie Daniels (mdaniels@gmu.edu), Minkyung Park (mparka@gmu.edu), Russell Brayley (rbrayley@gmu.edu), and Laurie Harmon (lharmon3@gmu.edu) submitted a proposal for $90,000 titled “Public Comment Analysis on the National Mall Plan” to the National Park Service.