Posts Tagged ‘joan oviawe’

Health and fitness majors bask in academic spotlight

Monday, April 27th, 2009

From left: Chase Rhodes with brothers Taylor and Zac

It’s been a pleasure this spring to get acquainted with two WSU Pullman seniors who aspire to be teacher/coaches:  Kyle McKeeman, whose volunteer activities won him a Distinguished Service Learning Award and the goodwill of his College Hill neighbors; and scholar-athleteDaven Harmeling, whose accomplishments will be highlighted at the May 9 commencement.  A third health and fitness major, Chase Rhodes, will be noted at commencement as part of a threesome. He and his brothers, Taylor and Zac, are the first triplets to graduate from WSU since 2001. Chase plans to finish his special education teaching endorsement in the next year.

Not to be outshone is health and fitness student junior Richard Swihart III, a President’s Award winner and inaugural recipient of the Virginia E. Thomas Endowed Scholarship for $1,000. The scholarship is presented to a WSU undergraduate who has excelled in leading other students and coaching others to become better leaders themselves. As reported in the Daily Evergreen, Richard came by some of his acumen during 10 years in the military, including two tours in Iraq. He’s attending WSU to become a naval officer.

President’s Award winners
In addition to Richard Swihart, the College of Education boasts six other students among this year’s 44 President’s Award winners. They are: Patricia Celaya, counseling psychology, Ph.D. candidate; Janine Darragh, language and literacy education, Ph.D.; Richard Goranflo III, higher education administration, Ed.M.; Christian Granlund, sport management, B.A.; Ladan Maleki, counseling psychology Ph.D.; joan o’sa oviawe, cultural studies, Ph.D.

Reading matter
End the University as we know it.  Writer argues that graduate education is the Detroit of higher learning.
Tight Times Call for Trustees Who Push Back, Presidents Say Economists do not know when the recession will end, the presidents said, and boards need to play a significant role in helping colleges restructure.

Question of the day
Who was the only U.S. president to have a Ph.D.? Find out here.

Tags: Chase Rhodes, Christian Granlund, Daven Harmeling, health and fitness, Janine Darragh, joan oviawe, Kyle Mckeeman, Laden Maleki,Patricia Celaya, President's Award, Richard Goranflo, Richard Swihart III,Thomas Scholarship
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

A really good week

Friday, March 13th, 2009

A big “Wahoo!” was the reaction for many faculty and staff, when state and national accreditation teams gave the college glowing preliminary reports on Wednesday.  At Thursday’s celebration, Dean Mitchell noted that, while we all know our programs are good, it is wonderful to have that confirmed by 18 very qualified outsiders.  The visitors repeatedly noted the collegial atmosphere they found, what one called “a small university feel” uncommon at a big university. Many folks worked tirelessly before and during the teams’ five-day joint visit, under the direction of college accreditation czar Ed Helmstetter.

For his efforts, Ed, former chair of the Department of Teaching & Learning, was honored with a leaf on the Legacy Tree. 

See some photos from the accreditation visit here.

joan.o'sa oviawe and President Elson S. Floyd

A big “Wow!” On Wednesday, doctoral candidate joan.o’sa oviawe became the first student in the 12-year
history of WSU’s Women of Achievement Awards to win the top “Woman of the Year”accolade.  Joan, whose homeland is Nigeria, is specializing in cultural studies and social thought in education.

WSU Tri-Cities award winners: Lindsay Lightner, academic coordinator for T&L, is winner of the Region 8 New Advisor Award, given by the National Academic Advising Association.  She’ll pick up her prize at April’s regional conference in Missoula, then it’s on to the national competition.  … Barbara Ward, visiting assistant professor, will receive the Literacy Award from the Washington Organization for Reading Development for her significant literacy contributions at the state level.  Barbara was nominated by the Benton-Franklin Council of the International Reading Association.

Awards & Honors

Oviawe Named WSU Woman of the Year 2009

Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2009

Contact:
Kim Barret, Women's Resource Center, 509-335-4386, kim_barrett@wsu.edu
Maria Ortega, WSU News Service, 509-335-7209, mortega@wsu.edu

PULLMAN, Wash. – Graduate student joan.O'sa Oviawe (Joan O-VEE-AH-WEY’), was announced as the WSU Woman of the Year at the annual Women’s Recognition Luncheon held at the Pullman campus today, March 11.

Oviawe is doctoral candidate in the College of Education specializing in cultural studies and social thought in education. She teaches a diversity class and is president of the Graduate Education organization. She serves on the Student Conduct board, is the employment liaison for the President’s Commission on the Status of Women, and a representative to GPSA.

Oviawe is also chair-elect for the National Research on Caribbean and African Special Interest Group of the American Educational Research Association, and is the founder of the Africa special interest Group of the Comparative and International Education Society.

She has been asked to present at national and international conferences, and has taken a leadership role in the Capacity Building Initiative for Scholars in Africa. She has founded a non-profit organization, The Grace Foundation, based on the principles of community building and self-sufficiency through education, participatory action and accountability.

As part of Women’s History Month, WSU recognizes the distinct role women have in creating social change, increasing equality for all and building community. During the luncheon, five WSU Women of Distinction were also recognized.

The 2009 Women of Distinction are Lori Carris, who received the award as a faculty member; Theresa Schulz Norris, who received the award as WSU alumna; Margo Tamez, who received the award as a WSU student; Heidi Stanton, who received the award as staff; and Gladys Jennings, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

For more information about each Woman of Distinction, visit http://www.wsunews.wsu.edu/pages/publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=14018&TypeID=1.