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Class Notes

Connecting alumni far and near with Teachers College and each other
Arts & Humanities
Language, Literature & Social Studies
 
Patricia Lynn Duffy (M.A., 1981) writes, “In my speech accepting the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009, I remember saying that one thing I had learned in life was that we can do nothing without the support of others. Whatever I achieved that led to the award could not have happened without the work and support of five talented TC ‘sister-alums’: Kate Parry (who launched the Kitengesa Community Library, a literacy project in Uganda which inspired me to initiate Book-Fairs-for-Literacy and Authors-for-Literacy events at the UN Language and Communications Progamme); Caroline Vaughan (who formerly headed the UN Language and Communications Programme); Mary Regan (my colleague in the UN Programme who took it upon herself to organize volunteers, collect, carry, set up, and hawk books); Maxine Steinhaus (who has always been on hand to listen, lend encouragement to my projects), and; Ann Kennedy (my “sister-TC classmate” and wonderful supporter, whose own career has added much to the promotion of literacy through teaching and writing, and who nominated me for the award).It can take a network of TC alums to make a Distinguished Alumni Award. Thanks, ‘TC sister-alums’—for being those ‘others’ in my life who have both supported
and inspired.”
 
 
Music & Music Education
 
Michael Bitz (Ed.D., 1998; Ed.M., 1996) was named the first recipient of the Mind Trust Fellowship in Educational Entrepreneurship. Through the fellowship, Bitz launched the Youth Music Exchange, school-based record labels owned and managed by youths. Prior to the fellowship, Bitz was a faculty member at TC where he led the Comic Book Project, about which he has written two books: Manga High: Literacy, Identity, and Coming of Age in an Urban High School (Harvard Education Press) and When Commas Meet Kryptonite: Classroom Lessons from the Comic Book Project (TC Press).
 
 
Teaching of English
 
Yang Hu (Ed.D., 1995; Ed.M., 1989; M.A., 1987) is currently working as an associate professor of Literacy Education at Hunter College School of Education where she coordinates the Master’s Program in Literacy Education. She has a book (co-authored with her Hunter College colleagues) coming out titled Teaching and Learning in the (dis) Comfort Zone: A Guide for New Teachers and Literacy Coaches. For more information, go to www.palgrave-usa.com.
 
 
Teaching of Spanish
 
Jose A. Carmona (Ed.M., 1986; M.A., 1984) is the president and co-founder of Global Educational Institute, Inc., where students learn English as a Second Language and take foreign language classes. He has been a Spanish and ESL professor, director and chair of languages and ESL departments and administrator of international admissions. His latest book, Perspectives on Community College ESL: Faculty, Administration and the Working Environment was published by the TESOL Organization in 2008. He also raises and rescues Siberian huskies and show bantam chickens in Florida.
 
 
Curriculum & Teaching
 
Curriculum and Teaching
 
Martha Harville (Ed.D., 2000) “I have relocated to be with family in Georgia, but I am still in the education field as Associate Graduate Faculty Member at Central Michigan University. I work full-time as a Data Support Specialist for Fulton County Schools in Georgia. I am working on two new articles about defining effective teaching.
 
Bernardo Nieto (M.A., 1980) Last October, after 30 years, Nieto visited TC and writes, “I went with my children and my wife to show them the places, the dorm (Bancroft Hall) where we lived, the classrooms, etc. It was a nice experience now that my children are deciding about their future studies. I thank TC for the wonderful experience I had there, for all the opportunities, the knowledge gained, the qualified and devoted people I met as my professors and instructors. After all these years I have to say I am proud to be a TC graduate and, thanks to the knowledge acquired there, I have been able to help many people in my country and better serve the mission and ideals of UNICEF.”
 
William Varney (M.A., 1966), who enrolled at TC in the master’s program in Early Elementary Education, writes, “I lived in the TC Dorms, and did my student teaching at P.S. 125 Manhattan. It was a wonderful year of discovery and self-discovery, during which I fell in love with one of my classmates, whom I later married. I did my student teaching under the guidance of the brilliantly talented Bill Cirone, who taught an IGC (Intellectually Gifted Children) 6th grade at P.S. 125. With a master’s degree under my belt, I stayed on at P.S. 125. I shall never forget that amazing chunk of my life which began with my year at TC.”
 
 
Counseling & Clinical Psychology
 
Counseling Psychology
 
Allison Schaffer (Ed.M., 2007; M.A., 2007) had an article published in the Jan/Feb edition of the ASCA School Counselor Magazine on creating community connections for students as a part of a comprehensive school character education program.
 
Vivian Ota Wang (Ph.D., 1995; M.Phil., 1994) was recently honored by the American Psychological Association. She is also a recipient of the 2010 TC Distinguished Alumni Awards.
 
 
Psychology in Education
 
Carole Berman (M.A., 1974) has devoted the last 35 years of her teaching career to gifted education. She is the director and founder of the Gifted and Talented Development Center in Westchester County. She is a Board member of the New York State Camp Directors Association and member of the American Camping Association. She can be reached at www.challengecamps.com.
 
 
Health & Behavior Studies
 
Giftedness
 
James Guilford (M.A., 2008) has published a young-adult novel titled “The Pencil Test.” A review posted by Independent Schools Magazine says: “The Pencil Test engages readers with an intriguing plot, an aplomb narrative and fully realized characters.”
 
Guidance
 
Olivia J. Hooker (M.A., 1947) was honored by New York State Senate with a resolution honoring the Greenburgh resident, psychologist and former college professor at Fordham University, for her achievements and contributions to the women’s’ and civil rights movements. Born in 1915, Hooker was the first African-American woman to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II and is a survivor of the Tulsa Riot of 1921. After the military, she earned a master’s in psychology from TC and a doctorate in psychology from the University of Rochester. After serving as a Fordham University professor, she worked as a psychologist at the Fred Keller School in Yonkers until 2002.
 
Learning Disabilities
 
Julie Griffin (Ed.M., 1983; M.A., 1977) is the Executive Director of the Newark Renaissance House, a private, not-for-profit community-based organization that was established in 1975 as a drug-free residential therapeutic community for the treatment of substance abusing adults. Partnership in Philanthropy, a statewide nonprofit organization that provides counsel and practical assistance to other nonprofits, has selected Newark Renaissance House as a consultancy client in the Garden State for 2009–2010.
 
Nursing Education
 
M. Louise Fitzpatrick (Ed.D., 1972; Ed.M., 1969; M.A., 1968), endowed dean and professor of the Villanova University College of Nursing, has been elected as a Registered Nurse Trustee to the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) International Board of Trustees. She will serve a four-year term beginning January 2010. Fitzpatrick has served three years on the CGFNS Committee on Appeals.
 
 
Organization & Leadership
 
Adult Education Guided Intensive Study
 
John M. Carfora (Ed.D., 2007) co-authored a new book titled The Art of Funding and Implementing Ideas: A Guide to Proposal Development and Project Management (Sage, 2010).
 
Higher & Post Secondary Education
 
Emily Grey (Ed.M., 2006; M.A., 2004) moved to New York after graduating from Duke to pursue her M.A. in higher education at TC. During that time, she worked at Columbia in the Center for Career Education, where she advised undergraduate students for five years while completing her degree, and then transitioned to NYU to pursue her Ph.D. She is a full-time student and an adjunct teacher and researcher at NYU.
 
 
Math, Science & Technology
 
Instructional Technology & Media
 
Yoon-il Auh (Ed.D., 2000; M.A., 1993; Ed.M., 1991) is the deputy provost at the National Labor College in Maryland. He previously served as the director of Distance and Distributed Education at Central Michigan University
 
Science Education
 
A. Barry Bergman (Ed.D., 1975; Ed.M., 1973; M.A., 1970) is Regional Science Coordinator for Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES.  Having retired seven years ago after a 30-year career as a school principal, Bergman has returned to his original academic love of science and supports science programs for 77 school districts. Having first published science books with legendary TC professor Willard Jacobson, Bergman has authored (or co-authored) seven books in the field of science education and school administration. Coming in March 2010 is the revision of a book on the elementary school principalship for Corwin Press.

Published Wednesday, Jun. 2, 2010

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