December 2018

Several current and former students have published an article focused on stress, worry, somatization and anxiety in an ethnically diverse sample of college students in the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. The co-authors are Niloofar Tavakoli, who received an M.Ed. in counseling; Amanda Broyles, a doctoral student in the counseling psychology program; Erin K. Reid, a doctoral student in the school psychology program; and J. Robert Sandoval, a doctoral student in the measurement, quantitative methods and learning sciences program. Virmarie Correa-Fernandez, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences, was senior author on the paper.

November 2018

Alex Jones, who received a B.S. in teaching and learning in 2006 and an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction in 2007, has been selected to receive the Wilhelmina C. Robertson Excellence in Science or Mathematics teaching award from the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Jones will receive the award at the Excellence in Science or Mathematics Luncheon in November.

Luis Landa, who received an Ed.D. in professional leadership – K-12 in 2018, and Donna Clark, a doctoral student in the professional leadership – K-12 program, had papers accepted for presentation at the University Council for Educational Administration conference in November in Houston. Landa wrote about parent engagement at primarily Latinx high school campuses, and Clark covered college and career readiness for all.

October 2018

Michael Mendoza, who received an M.Ed. in higher education in 2017, presented a poster detailing the University of Houston’s commitment to sustainably sourced food and drastic waste reduction at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s national conference in October. Mendoza is a manager in the UH Office of Sustainability.

Yolanda Calhoun, who received an Ed.D. in professional leadership – K-12 in 2016, had an article accepted for publication in Urban Review, a peer-reviewed journal that addresses issues in public education. The paper focuses on the challenges of students attending an early college high school.

August 2018

Nancy Linden, who received an Ed.D. in professional leadership in 2013, was selected to attend the 2018 Higher Education Resource Services Institute at Bryn Mawr College in July. The HERS Institute is a leadership development and research organization dedicated to creating and sustaining a diverse network of women leaders in higher education. Linden is an assessment management system coordinator and lecturer of humanities at Savannah State University.

Sara Johnson, who received an M.Ed. in administration and supervision in 2018, has been named an assistant principal at Bowie Middle School in Fort Bend ISD. Johnson’s interests include technology integration in the classroom.

Kathy Brown, who received a Ph.D. in the curriculum and instruction - art education in 2018, has accepted a position as a visiting assistant professor at Texas Women’s University in Denton. Her dissertation explored social justice curricular work in art methods courses.

July 2018

Geovanny Ponce, who earned an M.Ed. in administration & supervision from the College in 2006, was promoted to east area superintendent of the Houston Independent School District in July. Ponce, an immigrant from Honduras, most recently served as principal of Jones Futures Academy and won secondary principal of the year awards from HISD and Region IV for the 2017-18 academic year.

Margaret Hale, an associate chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and her editorial staff – curriculum and instruction Ph.D. graduates Roni Dean-Burren and Eve Zehavi and curriculum and instruction Ed.D. graduates Heather Pule, Glen Russell and Dawn Westfall – received a 2018 National Council of Teachers of English Affiliate Journal Award for their journal, “English in Texas.” Hale also has an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction from the College. The team will be honored at the NCTE Annual Convention in Houston in November.

Meagan Edwards, who received an M.Ed. in administration and supervision in 2017, was selected as the new principal of Grissom Elementary School in Houston in July. She began her career in education in 2002 in Houston as a third-grade teacher at Cornelius Elementary and recently served as assistant principal at Woodson PK-8.

June 2018

Charles Foust, who received an Ed.D. in professional leadership - K-12 in 2017, was appointed superintendent of Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools in June. Foust previously served as chief school performance officer for Union County Public Schools in Monroe, N.C., and as a school support officer and principal in the Houston Independent School District.

Raven Jones, who received an Ed.D. in administration and supervision in 2013, received the James Emerson Award from the nonprofit Education Reach for Texans. The award honors professionals for their commitment to supporting students formerly in foster care. Jones is director of the Urban Experience Program at UH.

Martha Rammel Hinman, who received an Ed.D. in allied health education and administration in 1995, is developing a new School of Physical Therapy with an entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Anderson University in South Carolina. The program will start enrolling students in the summer of 2019. Hinman also has a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.

Zachary Gresham, who received a M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction in art education in 2015, recently was appointed program manager for arts in medicine at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. The program connects pediatric patients and their families to visual arts, music, theater and dance through community collaborations, large-scale projects and one-on-one experiences.

May 2018

Steve Fullen was promoted to associate superintendent of campus development for the Pasadena Independent School District in May. He previously served as principal of South Houston High School. Fullen earned a doctorate from the UH College of Education in educational leadership and cultural studies in 2010.

Emily Messa, associate vice chancellor and associate vice president for administration at UH, was appointed by the National Association of College Auxiliary Services to serve on the 2019 NACAS C3X Committee. NACAS, a professional trade association, supports the non-academic segment of higher education. Messa will play a crucial role in representing the association’s membership as its annual national event is planned and organized. She received a Ph.D. in educational psychology and individual differences in May 2015.

Micaela Rodriguez won the Outstanding Senior Honors Thesis Award from the UH Office of Undergraduate Research for her paper “Experiencing Intersectional Marginality: A First-Generation College Student’s Personal Narrative.” Rodriguez graduated in December with a B.S. in human development and family studies. The award ceremony was held in May. Sascha Hein and Leslie Frankel, assistant professors in the Department of Psychological, Health and Learning Sciences, were advisors on her thesis committee.

April 2018

Jonathan Campbell was named principal of Forney High School outside Dallas in April. He previously served as principal at Whitehouse High School, overseeing double-digit gains in student performance on state exams. Campbell received an Ed.D. in professional leadership – K-12 from the College of Education in 2015.

Khalilah Campbell-Rhone, the principal of Worthing High School in Houston, received the April Excellence in Leadership Award from the Houston Independent School District. Campbell-Rhone is known for her championing spirit and commitment to student success. She received an Ed.D. in professional leadership in 2014.

March 2018

Sylvia Leal, who received an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction in 2008, was appointed senior program officer for education and economic development at the  T.L.L. Temple Foundation in March. The Lufkin-based foundation works alongside families and communities in East Texas to alleviate poverty and create access and opportunities for all.

January 2018

Karen Weber, who received an Ed.D. in curriculum & instruction — learning, design and technology in 2016, and Keri Myrick, a higher education doctoral student, had a paper accepted for publication in the International Journal of ePortfolio. The double-blind, peer-reviewed journal is published biannually by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. They presented at the AAC&U 2018 Annual Meeting in January. Weber and Myrick work at The Honors College at UH.