EduGators Making a Difference: Dr. Kathleen Farrand

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Congratulations to Dr. Kathleen Farrand (MED ’06) on her new position at Arizona State University as an Assistant Professor!

Recently awarded 2015 Outstanding CEC (Council for Exceptional Children) Graduate Student of the Year, Farrand has been making strides to improve the social and academic success of all early childhood students. With a focus of dramatic inquiry in inclusive classrooms for students in a variety of settings, her research has helped to implement progressive learning and engagement strategies throughout classrooms.

Aside from being an Associate Professor, Farrand also serves as the editor of the Visual Impairment and Deafblind Education Quarterly Journal and as an executive board member of the Division on Visual Impairments and Deaf Blindness.

She has published several articles to date, which have been presented at conferences for the CEC, the Association for Science Teacher Education, the Ohio Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, and the Ethnography in Education Research Forum.

And she has not stopped there! Farrand has continually worked in leadership roles with early childhood students and continues to impress colleagues with her ability to relate to students with disabilities.

Go Dr. Farrand & Go EduGators!

Share your story at https://education.ufl.edu/alumni/update-info/

Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Tammy Ryan

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tammyryancostarica-library2Dr. Tammy Ryan (BAE ’83) is getting attention far and wide for her leadership in helping children to read and preparing teachers to improve literacy among K-12 students.

Ryan, an associate professor of reading education at Jacksonville University, was awarded the university’s 2015 Woman of the Year award for her outstanding contributions to the campus and the community, including running a reading lab to help improve the literacy of Duval County youngsters.

More recently, Ryan, established a 500-book library in Uvita, Costa Rica, a small village with few children’s books and no school libraries. Ryan, her three nieces and other volunteers rounded up Spanish and English books to establish the library at an after-school center for kindergarten-to-fifth-graders. They used mobile devices and apps to create a book inventory, provide library cards and set up an efficient checkout system.

Now Ryan is getting the word out to help others to establish similar libraries. Read more about her international work.

Go Dr. Ryan and go EduGators!

2015 COE Edugator Tailgate

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The College of Education hosted an EduGator Tailgate at the Brick Plaza of Norman Hall Saturday, October 3rd. Over a hundred COE alumni and friends gathered together for food, drinks, conversation, and to watch some good ole’ football. The College of Education plans to host future EduGator Alumni Tailgates.

Thank you to all our alumni and guests who were able to attend this event!

To see all of the photos from the event, click here.