The NIU College of Education family came together May 3 in the ballroom of the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center to celebrate another year of teaching, learning, scholarship, service and success.
Acting Dean Bill Pitney recognized several faculty and staff members, including winners of the annual College of Education Awards and those who are marking work anniversaries in 2024.
Pitney also saluted Corrine Wickens of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, who was named Senior Faculty Fellow for 2024-26, along with faculty and staff chosen to receive dean’s grants: Pi-Sui Hsu, Tom Smith, Mariana Ricklefs and Reva Freedman (“Gamifying Scientific Argumentation as an Equity Pedagogy”) and Wickens, Razak Dwomoh, Hyoju Ahn, Cansu Tatar and Eric Junco (“Professional Development in Literacy, Inquiry, Social Justice and AI Technology”).
Recipients of the College of Education Awards were:
- Excellence in Teaching Award by Faculty/Clinical Faculty: Brandon Perez, SEED
- Excellence in Research and Artistry Award by Faculty: Lindsay Harris, LEPF
- Excellence in Service Award by Faculty or Staff: Ben Creed, LEPF
- Excellence in Diversity/Social Justice Award: Zach Wahl-Alexander, KNPE
- Exceptional Contributions by Instructor Award: Kristal Armstrong, SEED
- Exceptional Contributions by Staff Award: Allie Shirar, SEED
Chief among the anniversary honorees was Gaylen Kapperman, who arrived at NIU in 1974.
Kapperman, professor in the Department of Special and Early Education and who for years led the Visual Disabilities program, has logged half-a-century as a Huskie and remains active in his academic career.
NIU President Lisa C. Freeman was on hand to applaud and talk about Kapperman; additional words were shared by Pitney and Visual Disabilities colleagues Stacy Kelly and Molly Pasley. Kapperman’s daughter, Gretchen, and some of his alumni also returned to their alma mater to cheer on the professor.
Others whose anniversaries were recognized:
- 30 years: Laurie Zittel, KNPE.
- 25 years: Cynthia Campbell, ETRA.
- 20 years: Euikyung Shin, CI; David Walker, Office of the Dean; Teresa Wasonga, LEPF; Dan Hyde, Office of the Dean.
- 15 years: Melanie Koss, CI; Corrine Wickens, CI; Todd Gilson, Office of the Dean.
- 10 years: Suzanne Degges-White, CAHE; Patrick Roberts, LEPF; Michael Manderino, CI; Rebecca Vaughn, CI; Daryl Dugas, LEPF; Stacy Kelly, SEED; Todd Reeves, ETRA; Jamie Brown, CAHE; Lydia Gerzel-Short, SEED; Sarah Militz-Frielink, LEPF.
- 5 years: Zoe Cassady, CI, Jeanine Clark Bremer, CI; Nick Grahovec, KNPE; Gudrun Nyunt, CAHE; David Serowka, KNPE; Michael Tscholl, ETRA; Kristine Wilke, CI; Janet Foster, KNPE.
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