College of Education & Human Development
LIVING AND GIVING
WE TRANSFORM LIVES
1
INVESTING IN FACULTY
3
CHANGE AGENT
5
DR. AND MRS. LAY’S OPUS
7
LEGACY OF LEARNING
9
PAY IT FORWARD
11
A HELPING HAND
13
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH STEVE
14
THANKS FOR GIVING
16
Please contact Steve Blomstedt, director of development for the College of Education and Human Development, to discuss how you can help transform lives through education.
Steve Blomstedt Director of Development College of Education and Human Development 802 Harrington Tower 4222 TAMU College Station, Texas 77843-4222 Tel. 979-847-8655 Fax 979-845-6129 s-blomstedt@tamu.edu giving.tamu.edu
Living and Giving is published annually for the benefit of friends and donors of the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University by the development and communications offices in the college. To request additional copies of this publication, please e-mail Diane Oswald at doswald@tamu.edu. Dr. Douglas J. Palmer, Dean Steve Blomstedt, Director of Development Diane L. Oswald, Promotion and Development Coordinator Jenna Kujawski, Communications Manager Writer: Diane L. Oswald Contributing Editors: Jenna Kujawski and Kara Sutton-Jones Designer: Esther Ewert Photo Credits: Esther Ewert: cover, pages 2, 6, 17 Jenna Kujawski: page 14 Emily Oswald: page 8 Kara Sutton-Jones: pages 10, 12 Texas A&M 12th Man Foundation: page 15
WE TRANSFORM LIVES
F
or many, 2009 will be remembered as one of the most difficult fiscal years in recent memory. With a blanket of uncertainty covering nearly every sector of the global market, apprehension has permeated the news and slowed economic recovery. However, even when faced with uncommon challenges, friends of the College of Education and Human Development continue to invest in students, faculty and programs. Over the past year, new scholarships, faculty fellowships and program funding have been established to support the teaching, research and service missions of the college. Private gifts fuel progress in supporting first-generation students, attracting and retaining exceptional faculty, and developing and delivering life-changing programs in communities throughout the state and nation. Looking forward, our college’s most pressing needs continue to be student scholarships, resources to recruit and retain highly productive faculty, and availability of quality research facilities. Students within the College of Education and Human Development carry a heavy student debt when compared to their earning potential. A debt of $18,000 can be paid off more quickly by graduates entering fields with higher salaries than those in education. With your continued support, we hope to minimize student debt through scholarships as an incentive to attract students into high-need teaching and administrative fields.
Despite the general economic downturn, our faculty are being highly recruited. The recognition and support of faculty fellowships is a proven strategy for the development and retention of outstanding faculty. We received our first endowed faculty fellowship this year and hope to expand this initiative. The need for improved, expanded office and laboratory space for faculty and graduate students has been accelerated by an increase in research activities and the aging of existing facilities. To meet these needs on a short-term basis, faculty, staff and students are currently housed in no fewer than seven buildings across campus. In the interest of improved communications and collaboration, we hope to find individuals with the resources and desire to help fund the construction of a new college building in the near future. As the year-long celebration of the college’s 40th Anniversary winds down, I want to thank you again for your encouragement and support. Together, we are transforming lives through education. Best Wishes,
Douglas J. Palmer Professor and Dean giving.tamu.edu • one
two • Living & Giving
INVESTING IN FACULTY
W
hen Dee and Tom Yates first met, they “I earned my Ph.D. in counseling psychology and had a field day – literally. She was an fell in love with Texas A&M,” Dee says. “The elementary teacher in Laredo, and both were admissions process for our program was really working at the school’s annual field day. In excellent, with informal networking sessions between water balloon launches and relay at professor’s and student’s homes followed by races, it was this mutual interest in children and formal interviews on campus. Not only was I education that led to their first meeting and, privileged to be one of the 10 graduate students more recently, to the couple establishing the Dr. accepted, but I was also fortunate to receive a Deanna and Thomas Yates Faculty Fellowship Regents Fellowship.” in Educational Psychology. Involved faculty members like Mike Ash “I have been an educator since I was 22,” Dee made a tremendous impact on Dee’s graduate says. “I know firsthand the impact a motivated experience. “While I was at Texas A&M, I and dedicated teacher can have on students.” worked part time in the Counseling and Dee and Tom benefited from having dedicated, Assessment Clinic in the department. During my accomplished faculty as their mentors at Texas last semester, Dr. Ash gave me the opportunity A&M University, and their gift is one way they to be the interim director of the clinic,” she says. could give back. Not only did I work with patients, but I was able to gain valuable experience in insurance billing “Faculty work very hard in teaching, research and and community contracts. It was by far one of service activities. Often, they don’t receive much my best professional experiences as a graduate public acknowledgement for their efforts,” Dee student because it prepared me to run my own says. “We hope that this fellowship will support private practice.” the work of dedicated faculty members and serve as a well-deserved pat on the back.” The inaugural Dr. Deanna and Thomas Yates Faculty Fellowship recipient is Oi-Man Kwok, Tom graduated from Texas A&M in 1956 with assistant professor in the Department of bachelor’s degrees in petroleum engineering Educational Psychology. and geological engineering. He credits his undergraduate experience and the faculty at Dee and Tom Yates established the Dr. Deanna and Texas A&M for much of the success he has Thomas Yates Faculty Fellowship in Educational enjoyed in the oil business. Inspired by Tom’s Psychology to recognize and support outstanding earlystories of his college days, Dee returned to to mid-career faculty members in the Department of school to work on her doctorate in educational Educational Psychology. psychology and graduated from her husband’s alma mater in 1991. giving.tamu.edu • three
four • Living & Giving
CHANGE AGENT
A
member of her doctoral committee dubbed her an “expert in change.” Perhaps it was because he knew that Gogi Dickson, a 10th-generation Texan and military wife, had moved her family 30 times in 30 years. Or, maybe it was because he saw the difference that Gogi made in the lives of others. Through the newly established Dr. Gogi Dickson ’90 Scholarship, Gogi is leveraging her experience to impact the lives of future Aggie educators.
“During that year, I was able to immerse myself in academics and focus on my Ph.D. program. It was a time of great professional growth for me.” For over 30 years, Gogi served as a reading teacher, campus principal, assistant superintendent and university professor. She is currently president of Dickson Consulting Group, LLC, and dedicates a large portion of her time to community service at the state and city levels.
Gogi was destined to be a Texas Aggie. In Gogi and John were high school sweethearts 1963, when Texas A&M University President and will celebrate 46 years of marriage this year. James Earl Rudder announced that women Their three children – John, Rusty and Amy – who were wives of students could be admitted, are all Aggies! Gogi quickly enrolled. “I was one of the first 27 women admitted to Texas A&M,” Gogi says. The importance of education and a love for Texas A&M inspired John and Gogi to establish As the wife of an army officer, Gogi and her family the Dr. Gogi Dickson ’90 Scholarship for those have lived in Texas, New York, Georgia, Kansas, who seek certification in teaching math, science Virginia, England, Germany and Korea. Despite or reading, and have a parent in the military. the frequent moves, Gogi managed to complete “Moving around so much made it very difficult her undergraduate degree in education and art for our children to compete for scholarships,” history from Ladycliff College in New York and Gogi says. “I hope that this scholarship can help her master’s degree in educational leadership other military families meet the challenges of from the University of Southern California. change that comes with a military family’s way of life.” When she could not move with her husband John ’64 to an isolated command in Turkey, Gogi Gogi Dickson is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council. entered the educational leadership doctoral Council members serve as ambassadors and advocates for program at Texas A&M. “At the time, two of the college, and they work to secure resources to further the our children were here, so while John was in college’s mission. Turkey, I moved to College Station,” Gogi says.
giving.tamu.edu • five
six • Living & Giving
DR. AND MRS. LAY’S OPUS
R
ichard Dreyfuss gave a stirring performance as Glenn Holland, a music teacher yearning to write one significant piece of music for which he would be remembered. In the 1995 movie Mr. Holland’s Opus, it was the students who showed the struggling composer that the symphony he was writing in their hearts and minds would be his greatest accomplishment. For Mary Jo and Dr. Billy Lay, the movie illustrates the fact that teachers can make a profound impact on the lives of students. Inspired by this belief, Mary Jo and Billy established two endowed scholarships and gave the lead gift to establish the college’s Study Abroad Assistance Fund for students preparing to become classroom teachers. The couple, married for 53 years, dedicated their careers to education. Billy and Mary Jo were both classroom teachers before accepting positions at Texas A&M University. Billy was the director of admissions for Texas A&M for 22 years, and Mary Jo was a lecturer in the Department of Educational Curriculum and Instruction for 17 years. “We both believe it is important to recruit and educate the best teachers possible,” Mary Jo says. “Teaching is a career that more than doubles the investment. When we support the education of teachers, they go into the classroom and help students throughout their careers.”
Educating future teachers to respond to the needs of an increasingly diverse student population requires preparing them to teach students from different backgrounds and cultures. “It is important for aspiring teachers to travel to other countries to broaden their perspectives and help them learn how to teach through language or cultural differences,” Mary Jo says. “We are happy to help the college provide more international opportunities for education students,” Billy adds. The duo is very optimistic about the future impact of graduates from the College of Education and Human Development. “We have the brightest and best students preparing to become teachers,” Mary Jo says. “They are going to return to their communities and make a big difference. There is no question.” Like the music teacher in Mr. Holland’s Opus, Mary Jo and Billy have spent a lifetime writing a symphony of success in the lives of students through their careers as educators and the scholarships they have established. Mary Jo and Billy Lay established two endowed scholarships in their names to support undergraduate students preparing to become teachers and helped establish the Study Abroad Assistance Fund. To contribute to the Study Abroad Assistance Fund, contact Steve Blomstedt at 979-847-8655.
giving.tamu.edu • seven
eight • Living & Giving
LEGACY OF LEARNING
J
oan and Allen Landry ’50 met on a blind teach the farmhands how to read. She owned date going to a movie in Orange, Texas, the complete works of Shakespeare and the in 1947. He was an undergraduate Corps of Bible, and would often quote from both. Cadets student at Texas A&M University working on a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. At The scholarship is also named for Joan’s fraternal the time, they didn’t realize they were building grandmother Odessa. She was proud of any friendships on campus that would last a lifetime. child who graduated, and she never missed a high school graduation, even after her own Allen’s experiences and the relationships he children completed their education. forged at Texas A&M inspired him to establish scholarships for students in the Corps of Cadets. Joan’s mother LaVada was the first working Through a recent real estate gift, Joan and Allen woman in their family. She began working have strengthened their ties to the university as a census taker, and became a self-taught while also remembering some very special businesswoman. women in Joan’s life. The real estate gift that Joan and Allen gave “Allen and I gave this gift to the university to to Texas A&M includes a historical home that help establish scholarships in both the Corps was accurately restored and a parcel of land of Cadets and the College of Education and owned by Grandmother Reese. Joan thinks it Human Development,” Joan says. “We named would have pleased her grandmother to know the later scholarship in recognition of three that her land will benefit education students in women who were among my earliest teachers.” the future. The Nola Camp Reese, Odessa Ratcliff Canter “This scholarship is a way to acknowledge the and LaVada Reese Canter College of Education impact that each of them had on our lives,” and Human Development Teacher Preparation Allen says. “We hope that students receiving this Scholarship will honor Joan’s grandmothers, scholarship will one day help someone further Nola Camp Reese and Odessa Ratcliff Canter, their education!” and her mother, LaVada Reese Canter. The Nola Camp Reese, Odessa Ratcliff Canter and Joan’s maternal grandmother Nola was a school LaVada Reese Canter College of Education and Human teacher early in life. She had her grandchildren Development Teacher Preparation Scholarship will bring their classroom books to her farm to help support students studying to become teachers.
giving.tamu.edu • nine
ten • Living & Giving
PAY IT FORWARD
I
n the movie Pay it Forward, an 11-yearold boy finds a simple way to change the world. His notion of doing an unsolicited favor for three individuals and asking them to do the same for three others sets a revolution of kindness in motion. Jim Kracht, associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Education and Human Development, is often the catalyst for changing the academic world around him.
Although all three students offered to pay the money back after graduation, they were told that some time in the future, they may be called upon to help a student facing similar economic challenges.
“I called these three former students and explained the situation. I told them that I had $400, and we needed each of them to contribute $150 to meet the need,” he adds. Within a couple of hours, Jim “Recently, we had a student who was at a financial had the $850 he needed to support the student crossroads,” Jim says. “The student was a veteran, through the end of the semester. was supporting a child alone and became ill after working too many hours.” “This student will graduate soon and will become an excellent teacher,” Jim says. “I can only While living from paycheck to paycheck, the imagine how much more difficult it would be student’s health deteriorated further and resulted for our students if it were not for the generosity in the loss of a part-time job. The situation would of former students and friends who give back to have caused the student to quit school and return Texas A&M.” to work full time to pay rent, utilities and food if it weren’t for Jim and his acts of kindness a few Two student assistance funds have been established to help years prior. students who experience short-term financial difficulties so they may continue their studies. The Janice Thomas “Before either of our student assistance funds had Student Assistance Fund is an endowed fund established by been established, three education students found Janice and John Thomas. The Dean’s Student Assistance themselves in similar situations. Faculty and staff Fund is supported through individual gifts. To learn more pooled resources to help these individuals, and about the Dean’s Student Assistance Fund and how you can they were able to complete their education and help education students, see the article on page 13. are now teaching in Texas schools,” Jim says.
giving.tamu.edu • eleven
twelve • Living & Giving
A HELPING HAND
F
or a student with a bare-bones budget, unanticipated costs or emergencies that drive up monthly expenses can derail a college education.
Students may apply for grants in amounts ranging from $150 to $650 that can be used to pay for food, rent, medical expenses, textbooks or other reasonable necessities.
The Dean’s Student Assistance Fund is supported through the generosity of friends, faculty, staff and former students who understand the impact of meeting needs at a personal level. Contributions of any amount can be added to Often, a few hundred dollars is all that is needed the fund to help Aggie education students when to help a student get through a tough semester. they need it most. For information on how you A little extra money to pay for textbooks, can contribute, contact: supplement rent or buy food can make all the difference in the world. Steve Blomstedt Those at greatest risk include first-generation students and those whose parents and friends have contributed all of the financial support they can toward their student’s education.
The Dean’s Student Assistance Fund was established in the College of Education and Human Development to bridge the temporary gap between needs and resources for students requiring a little extra support. “We often hear of students who have barely enough money for basic necessities, and they run out of money a few weeks before the end of the semester for reasons beyond their control,” Dean Doug Palmer says. “This fund will make it easier for students to remain focused and successful when the unexpected occurs.”
Director of Development College of Education and Human Development 802 Harrington Tower 4222 TAMU College Station, Texas 77843-4222 Tel. 979.847.8655 Fax 979.845.6129 s-blomstedt@tamu.edu www.giving.tamu.edu
giving.tamu.edu • thirteen
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH STEVE
exceptional faculty, which impacts student learning and service and research programs.
How has the state of the economy impacted overall contributions for the college? We have been very fortunate. Friends and donors have continued to invest in students, faculty and programs within the college despite the economic downturn. In their view, the return on investment in our students, educational research and service continues to be outstanding. With perhaps limited resources, what areas can donors make the biggest impact with their gift dollars? Student scholarships and faculty fellowships offer tremendous opportunities to impact students and families. Often, scholarships and graduate fellowships make the difference in whether students are able to attend college or afford graduate school. Faculty fellowships enable the college to attract and retain fourteen • Living & Giving
What are the college’s greatest need areas and why? In addition to student scholarships and faculty fellowships, there is a critical need for a new building for the Department of Health and Kinesiology to accommodate the expanding needs of office, laboratory and classroom space. Departmental faculty have been successful at securing external grant funding for their research, but with this success comes expanded facility needs. We are looking for donors who have the resources and vision to help make this new building a reality. What are a few of your hopes for the coming year? We would like to add 10 new endowed scholarships and faculty fellowships in the college in order to attract and retain high-quality students and faculty. And of course, we are hoping for a winning football season! Speaking of sports, what is your favorite season? Any winning season for the Aggies! There are many different ways to support the College of Education and Human Development. To consider what way might be best for you, call Steve at 979-847-8655 or send him an e-mail at s-blomstedt@tamu.edu.
★ “PLANNED GIFTS HELP YOU LEAVE YOUR MARK ON TEXAS A&M WHILE SHAPING YOUR FUTURE.”
★ Jess C. “Rick” Rickman ’70 established a planned gift benefitting the College of Education and Human Development.
Texas A&M Foundation Office of Gift Planning. Renewing Spirit. Serving Minds. Planned giving through the Texas A&M Foundation benefits the university and the donor. Steve Blomstedt, director of development for the College of Education and Human Development, along with your advisors, can help put innovative gift planning to work for you. Your goals will determine the strategy for using tools, such as wills, trusts, gift annuities, IRAs or even life insurance. Along with certain tax benefits, the future gift plan you build may offer you lifetime payments or enable you to retain control of your assets. Best of all, you have the satisfaction of directing a larger future gift for academics than you ever thought possible, helping to attract top-caliber talent to Texas A&M and provide world-class opportunities for Aggie scholars. Direct a brilliant future for our university and yourself with the power of intelligent planned giving. Become part of the spirit and mind of Texas A&M. Call Steve to begin exploring your options. Contact Steve Blomstedt, director of development at 979-847-8655 or s-blomstedt@tamu.edu
giving.tamu.edu
THANKS FOR GIVING The College of Education and Human Development would like to thank the many donors recognized in these pages. Through your generous support, the college is able to help meet the needs of our students, faculty and programs. Your gifts enable the college to continue our tradition of excellence in education through teaching, research and service.
The individuals, corporations and foundations listed below contributed or pledged at least $1,000 to the college through the Texas A&M Foundation during their fiscal year, which is July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009. A º denotes an endowed gift. All gifts to the college are greatly appreciated. $100,000 - $999,999 Sadie and William P. Strombergº Dee and Tom Yates $50,000 - $99,999 Joan and Allen Landryº $25,000 - $49,999 Gogi and John Dicksonº Lt. Col. Louis Draperº Tom Haggai and Associates Foundation Joan C. Read $1,000 - $24,999 Lynda Brown Janet O. Cass
Kay and Jerry Cox Michele and Tom Davis Kathy Denton Department of Health and Kinesiology Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture James M. Drew Gina and William H. Flores Hastings Entertainment, Inc. Anne and Mark Holubec Houston A&M Club Jean and Skip Johnson Patsy and Warren Kirksey Sharon and Cecil Kirksey Barbara and Arno Krebs Mary Jo and Billy Lay
Carolyn and Tommie Lohman Sue and Patrick Mahoney Lynn and Gary Martin Dorothy and Artie McFerrin John Milkovich Brock A. Nelson Darlene and Doug Palmer Joyce and Randle Peterson Sue and Rick Rickman III Anna and Patrick Squire Janice and John Thomas Cheryl and John Trott Verizon Foundation Sherri and Ben Welch Bob Winter
The individuals, corporations and foundations listed below have established one or more scholarships benefitting students within the college through the Texas A&M Foundation. We are deeply grateful for the generosity and support of these friends of the college. President’s Endowed Scholarships
Mora Waddell Boone and James L. Boone Sr. ’21 Polly Wiseman Franklin ’86 Memorial Grace A. and Carol W. Phillips ’54
Sue and Patrick Mahoney Karen and Steven Morris Susan and Bill Ouren Sue and Rick Rickman III Ellen and Rod Thornton Gary W. “Buddy” Williams Diane and Bob Winter
Foundation Excellence Awards
George W. Brackenridge Foundation Joyce Ann and Col. Thomas M. Jackson
sixteen • Living & Giving
Endowed Opportunity Awards
Luann and Richard Dolan
Mary Evelyn Dunn Hayes Endowed Scholarship in Education Mildred F. and Carl Henninger ’49 Endowed Opportunity Award Scholarship Sul Ross Scholarships
James L. Boone Mora Waddell Boone
Forrest Ridge Elementary School teacher Ruth Littlefield was honored by Ben and Sherri Welch for her contribution to education at the 2009 Dean’s Roundtable. Pictured with student Graham Welch, John Trott (left), chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council, and Dean Doug Palmer, Ruth was one of 17 Texas educators recognized. For information on how to honor a Texas educator at the 2010 Dean’s Roundtable, please visit our Web site at http://www. cehd.tamu.edu/articles/deans_ roundtable.
Endowed and Planned Gifts The individuals, corporations and foundations listed below have established planned gifts and/or endowments befitting the college through the Texas A&M Foundation. An asterisk denotes a planned gift as a portion of the total amount. We are deeply grateful for the generosity and support of these friends of the college. ≥ $1,000,000 Houston Endowment, Inc. Sydney and J.L. Huffines Dorothy and Artie McFerrin Ed Rachal Foundation Joan and Thomas Read $500,000 - $999,999 Claude H. Everett Jr. Estate* Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation Sue and Patrick Mahoney* Gary J. Martin* $100,000 - $499,999 John W. Anderson Foundation Robert G. Cherry Estate* Kay and Jerry Cox Gina and William H. Flores W.L. Gerner Estate* Susan Gulig* Mary Evelyn Dunn Hayes Estate* Herman F. Heep and Minnie Belle Heep Foundation Carolyn and Tommie Lohman Eddie and Joe Mattei Brock A. Nelson* Sue and Rick Rickman III*
Betty and David Smith/Wilda Smith Scott Trust Karen and Terry O. Smith* Omar Smith Estate/Omar Smith Enterprises, Inc.* Claudia and Rod Stepp* Bob Winter ≤ $99,999 Barbara J. and Walter E. Anderson Mary Barnhill Estate James L. Boone Mora Waddell Boone Geraldine Longbotham Bowers Janie and Ralph Bowler* George W. Brackenridge Foundation Beth and Sherman Bradley Lynda Brown Michelle Thornberry Bunch Capital City A&M Club Todd Christopher Class of ’66 Michele and Tom Davis* Dow Aggies Sally and Ralph C. Duchin Sylvia and Raul Fernandez* Janie H. and Gordon R. Flack Donna and Donald Foster*
Mary Ann and Gordon F. Gibson Don Hinton Thomas Hogan Alma Dell and Robert M. Johnson Kyle Kepple Patsy and Warren Kirksey Erin and Jim Kracht* Mary Jo and Billy Lay Harry Lucas Andrea “Sissy” and John R. McKenna Susan and William Ouren Carol and M. Michael Park Grace and Carroll Phillips Marlene and Robert Powell * William B. Roman Jr. Suzy and Arnold Romberg Langston Terry Janice and John Thomas Nancy and Fred Thornberry Molly Thornberry Whisenant Patricia and Charles Wiseman Janeen Holland Wood* Zachry Construction/The Zachry Foundation Michael Zerbel
giving.tamu.edu • seventeen
College of Education & Human Development 4222 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-4222