PSU announces Excellence in Sustainability Awards

Judy Bluehorse Skelton and Sona Andrews

Eight sustainability leaders at PSU were honored at the sixth annual PSU Sustainability Celebration, held in the Smith Memorial Student Union. Among this year’s winners were several from the GSE. Dr. Dilafruz Williams, Educational Leadership and Policy faculty member, received the Excellence in Sustainability Research award for faculty members. Leadership for Sustainability Education program alumna Judy Bluehorse Skelton received an Excellence in Teaching and Sustainability award. And Lewis Elementary School, which partners with the GSE’s Leadership for Sustainability Education program, was recognized with a PSU Sustainability Partnership Award.

Former Curriculum and Instruction chair passes away

The GSE community mourns the loss of Dr. Judy Edwards Allen, a former faculty member and long-time chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Allen served the GSE from 1983 to her retirement in 1994. After her time with the GSE, she continued to work and volunteer in a wide range of activities. One of her areas of expertise was technology, having worked as the director of the Computer Technology Program at the Northwest Regional Educational Lab.

New scholarship pays tribute to family of Oregon educators

To honor her family, Graduate School of Education Professor Amy Petti has made a gift to establish a new GSE scholarship. The Brakke-Daggett-Petti Family Educational Leadership Endowed Scholarship will be available to students in the Initial Administrator Licensure (IAL) program. It is Dr. Petti’s intention to help teachers become school leaders, and to encourage others who share this goal to support the scholarship. The gift consists of $25,000 to establish and endow the scholarship. In addition, the gift includes annual support to ensure that at least one $1,000 scholarship can be awarded each year. Because most IAL students are post-master’s, there is little or no other financial assistance available for them.

GSE alumna collects top university honors

Melanie Dixon-Carldwell, MS ’09, has received the 2013 PSU President’s Diversity Staff Award. She is a graduate of the GSE’s Postsecondary Adult and Continuing Education master’s degree and holds a graduate certificate in Teaching Adult Learners. She is the PSU Assistant Director of Diversity and Multicultural Student Services in Student Affairs, where she works to advocate for minority students on campus. Since earning her master’s in 2009, she has worked for PSU, first as the African American Student Services Coordinator, where she managed over 200 students, and currently as the director of Diversity and Multicultural Student Services. She is distinguished for her accomplishments in promoting PSU diversity goals and social justice initiatives.

PSU student achievement awards announced

[left to right] Candyce Reynolds, Susan Sugarman, Pat Burk and Esperanza De La Vega

Portland State University will recognize its 2013 outstanding students at the annual spring awards event in June. The GSE is proud of the remarkable group of GSE honorees listed below, who are also eligible for top university-wide honors. Those honors will be presented prior to commencement at a special awards event on June 13. The following are this year’s Graduate School of Education awardees. 

Alumnus of the Month – Laura LaMarsh

Laura LaMarsh is a dedicated PSU Viking. She earned her BS, MS, and Initial Administrator License all at PSU. Laura’s career in special education started when she became as an education assistant at Northwest Regional Educational Service District  (NWRESD), working with a student with severe orthopedic needs. One day the director told her that she had been selected to be part of a pilot team working with children with autism. When she asked why she had been selected for this position, Laura was informed that it was because she “had a good record of showing up daily and on time.”

This quiet start has led to a remarkable career in the field. Laura is currently the coordinator of autism services and coordinator of the elementary deaf and hard of hearing program in Hillsboro, a facilitator of the Autism Statewide Leadership Grant  through the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), a commissioner on the Oregon Commission for ASD (OCASD), and an adjunct faculty member at PSU. Laura emphasizes that her career is not just a job, but a passion for making a difference in the lives of children.