First Things First External Evaluation

Under Dean Ronald W. Marx’s leadership, the three state universities secured a $27 million grant to examine how improvements in access to and quality of educational and health services impact young children’s development. The longitudinal study will track children for up to 20 years. “This is the most important investment in young children our state has ever made,” says Marx, the principal investigator of the new grant from the state agency, First Things First (FTF). “No other state has ever done a longitudinal study like this. This is a unique piece of research.”

Teachers College Record

Professors Tom Good and Mary McCaslin played a big part in the November 2008 issue of Teachers College Record, which covered their study of comprehensive school reform programs in Arizona and included information about educating youth who live in urban or rural poverty. All articles that appear in the issue are written by McCaslin, Good, five current EDP students, and one former EDP student. TCR is a distinguished journal that has been published for more than 100 years.

Alumni Magazine Highlights Professor Bosworth

The spring 2008 edition of the UA Alumnus magazine featured our own Professor Kris Bosworth, the Lester L. and Roberta D. Smith Endowed Chair in Prevention and Education. The article outlines Bosworth’s research on drug prevention programs in schools and how she has taken this research and turned it into action. Bosworth is working in schools in South Tucson to implement programs that make them buffer zones for teens from risky behavior.

It’s been a winning season for Bosworth, as she also was selected by the Association of American Universities as an ideal example of the positive impact endowments have on community service. The AAU wants to demonstrate the many beneficial ways that universities spend from their endowments, especially when it comes to community service, and Bosworth’s name was at the top of the list!

Dedication to Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Communities

The College of Education is the winner of the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing 30th Anniversary Partnership Award for its dedication to the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. The ACDHH, which is celebrating 30 years of service, presented the award during a road tour around the state in 2008. In a letter announcing the award, Sherri L. Collins, executive director of ACDHH, wrote: “It’s a time for reflecting on the past, looking to the future, and highlighting the people and programs that have made us special.”

Since we’re home to the state’s only programs to prepare rehabilitation counselors and educators of the deaf and blind, we know our impact on this community is far reaching.