New at this year’s gathering was the presentation of the Dean’s Distinguished Faculty Awards where Dean Johnson presented awards to Drs. J. Luke Wood and Nancy Frey and a special recognition to Professor Emerita, Dr. Pamela J. Ross for their numerous contributions in support of students, programs, and community stakeholders central to our mission in the College of Education.
Beyond her many years with the College, Dr. Pamela Ross, Professor Emerita with the School of Teacher Education continues to volunteer countless hours in support of the SDSU Literacy Center. “Pam is the powerhouse that sustains the Literacy Clinic, offering one-on-one tutoring in reading, writing, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, spelling, and comprehension strategies for both children and adults who are experiencing difficulties in reading and language skills”, said Johnson describing why she is worthy of this special recognition.
The San Diego State University Community Reading Clinic (CRC) is part of the SDSU Literacy Center in the College of Education. Their purpose is to provide professional diagnostic and remedial services to members of the Greater San Diego community, both children and adults, who are experiencing difficulties in reading and language skills.
Visit the Literacy Center website.
In presenting the two Dean's Distinguished Professor Awards, Dean Johnson sought to acknowledge COE faculty who are widely recognized nationally and even internationally, but who have not been adequately acknowledged on our campus. These are professors who are 1) prolific scholars (with impressive publication records and major grants), 2) phenomenal teachers (who are perceived as outstanding mentors by our students), 3) unselfish college/university service providers (who have extended themselves to provide a wide array of services in support of SDSU and our College of Education), and 4) national leaders (who provide a quality and quantity of service that is changing their fields). This is true both for Nancy Frey and Luke Wood.
J. Luke Wood, Ph.D. serves as the Director of the Joint Ph.D. program in Education between San Diego State University and Claremont Graduate University and Director of the Ed.D. Program in Community College Leadership. Dr. Wood is also Co-Director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL), a national research and practice center that partners with community colleges to support their capacity in advancing outcomes for men of color. CCEAL houses the National Consortium on College Men of Color (NCCMC) which host trainings, information sharing sessions, and provides resources to colleges with initiatives and programs supporting college men of color. He is also Chair for the Council on Ethnic Participation (CEP) for the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) and Co-Editor of the Journal of Applied Research in the Community College.
Wood’s research focuses on factors affecting the success of boys and men of color education, with a specific focus on community colleges. In particular, his research examines contributors (e.g., social, psychological, academic, environmental, institutional) to positive outcomes. Dr. Wood has delivered over a 120 scholarly professional and conference presentation. His research has been featured by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, New York Times, Chronicle of Higher Education, Huffington Post, Fortune Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, San Francisco Chronicle, C-SPAN, and National Press Club. Dr. Wood has authored over 120 publications, including more than 60 peer-reviewed journal articles. He has authored and edited 14 books, his most recent books include: Supporting men of color in the community college (2017, Wood and Harris III), Teaching boys and young men of color (2016, Wood and Harris III) and Teaching men of color in the community college (2015, Wood, Harris III, and White).
Dr. Wood is a former recipient of the Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Fellowship from which he served as research fellow at the Stanford Institute for Higher Education Research (SIHER), Stanford University. He has also served as a Young Academic Fellow for the Institute for Higher Education Policy and Lumina Foundation. His scholarship and professional practice have been lauded through awards and honors, including: the Council for the Study of the Community College Barbara K. Townsend Emerging Scholar Award; the National Association for Student Personnel Administrator’s Newly Published Research Award from the Knowledge Community on Men and Masculinities; the ASHE Council on Ethnic Participation Mildred Garcia Award for Exemplary Scholarship; the ASU Alumni Association Outstanding Graduate Award, the ASU Fulton College Dean’s Excellence Award for Graduate Research, the Sacramento Observer’s Top 30 under 30 Award, the ASU Fulton College Robert H. Fenske Fellowship for Higher & Postsecondary Education (ASU Fulton College); and the International Society for the Exploration of Teaching and Learning Distinguished Fellows Presentation Co-Award. Wood received his PhD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies with an emphasis in Higher Education and master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education from Arizona State University (ASU). He also holds a master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership with a concentration in Student Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in Black History and Politics from California State University, Sacramento. Luke is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.
Visit Luke’s website.
Nancy Frey, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University. She had previously served in the School of Teacher Education beginning in 2003 as a professor of literacy. She is the recipient of the 2008 Early Career Achievement Award from the National Reading Conference. Nancy has published in The Reading Teacher, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, English Journal, Voices in the Middle, Middle School Journal, Remedial and Special Education, TESOL Journal, Journal of Learning Disabilities, Early Childhood Education Journal, and Educational Leadership. She has co-authored books on formative assessment (Checking for Understanding and Formative Assessment Action Plan), instructional design (Better Learning for Structured Teaching), data-driven instruction (Using Data to Focus Instructional Improvement), and brain-based learning (In a Reading State of Mind).
Nancy’s research and writing reflects the collaborative work of schools. Her primary collaborative work is with EDL faculty member Doug Fisher. She has had the opportunity to write many other SDSU faculty members, including Ian Pumpian, Diane Lapp, Cynthia Uline, Cheryl James-Ward, and Donna Ross. Her research interests lie in schoolwide practices, literacy interventions, and the leadership of teachers and administrators who create these positive changes in the lives of young people.
Nancy is a credentialed special educator, reading specialist, and administrator in California, and has taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in Florida and California for two decades. She is a teacher-leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College, where she learns from her colleagues and students every day.
Visit Nancy’s website.
