2024 September Impact Update

Arnold named Fellow with Initiative for Race Research and Justice

Noelle Arnold, professor of Educational Administration and senior associate dean of the college’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Global Engagement, has been selected to serve as an Inaugural Faculty Fellow with the Initiative for Race Research and Justice at Vanderbilt University for a three-year term, beginning in fall 2024.

Fellows will partner with a renowned board to build programs, policies and opportunities designed to improve educational and related experiences. They will also emphasize opportunities for minoritized communities.

Arnold is an educational leader with a strong emphasis on values and beliefs, qualitative research, social justice and leadership advocacy.

Beard now president elect of University Council for Educational Administration

Karen Stansberry Beard, associate professor of Educational Administration, was elected as the next president of the executive committee of the national University Council for Educational Administration in November 2023. Her primary role is to plan the November 2024 convention. Its theme this year is “Renewing Our Engagement: Leading Schools and Communities with Justice and Joy.”

The theme reflects where the council is today — focused on equity driven by data born of an internal equity self-study. “That means we govern amidst uncertainty and change as we move toward a vision more aligned with and reflective of our membership and the students we serve in communities across the nation and globally,” she said. 

As president elect, Beard said her priority will remain on emphasizing this work and school leaders’ responsibility to facilitate high academic achievement — especially among students of color — and positive school experiences that ensure a healthy foundation for all.

Donna Ford, special education professor, rises in Research.com rankings

Donna Y. Ford, an Education and Human Ecology Distinguished Professor of Special Education, has risen in the 2024 Edition of Research.com’s Ranking of Best Scientists in the area of significant research contributions to social sciences and humanities.

Out of more than 4,000 ranked scholars from around the world, she is now No. 1,026 in the United States and No. 2,072 in the world. According to Research.com, more than 6,300 scientist profiles were examined, and several indicators and metrics reviewed to consider them for the ranking.

Hodge to receive second lifetime achievement award

Samuel R. Hodge, professor of Kinesiology and Adapted Physical Education, has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Dale Ulrich Lifetime Achievement Award by the North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (NAFAPA). This prestigious award is a testament to Dr. Hodge's outstanding accomplishments and invaluable contributions to the field of Adapted Physical Activity. He will receive the award at the Federation's annual conference later this month.
 
Hodge is the first African American president of the National Academy of Kinesiology, which inducted him as a Fellow in 2016. He received the Julian Stein Lifetime Achievement Award from SHAPE American earlier this year.

Paul manages two editorships for special education journals

Peter V. Paul, professor of Special Education, has been an editor of the American Annals of the Deaf since 2011. Put out by Gallaudet University Press, the journal is the oldest English-language journal dealing with deafness and the education of d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing persons. Paul regularly writes the editorial message for each issue.

Paul recently became one of the editorial board who makes final decisions for the Journal of Disability Research. The journal makes its publications freely available on scienceopen.com, the research plus publishing network.

Paul is known for his research on the development of reading comprehension and literate thought based on his major model, the Qualitative Similarity Hypothesis. This concept is described in his co-authored book, Deaf Students and the Qualitative Similarity Hypothesis. He hypothesizes that all students have the ability to learn language and literacy skills in a similar manner at different stages.

School psychologist awarded Emerging Leader Award

Kamontá Heidelburg, assistant professor of School Psychology, was awarded the 2024 Emerging Leader Award by the Council of Directors of School Psychology Programs (CDSPP) earlier this year. CDSPP uses this award to acknowledge a distinguished early career faculty member with impressive leadership and professional endeavors, to highlight the importance of early career faculty and to increase interest in serving as training director.
 
Heidelburg, a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, is dedicated to researching and implementing cultural adaptations to evidence-based individualized and systems-level interventions. His work is focused on fostering the positive social-emotional and academic development of Black students in schools, making a significant impact in this crucial area.

Huang, Stefano win Fulbright-Hays to Taiwan

Becky Hsuanhua Huang, professor of Elementary and Secondary Education, and Ivan Stefano, director of the college’s Intercultural English Language Programs, have been awarded a Fulbright-Hays group project abroad grant to lead a study abroad in Taiwan in summer 2025.

Their project, “Multilingual and Multicultural Taiwan: A Comparative Education Experience for K-12 Educators,” will be open to both pre-service teachers from the college and in-service educators from central Ohio. Mandarin language classes and education seminars will be offered.

Jeong receives Fulbright award to Turkiye

Sophia Jeong, assistant professor of Elementary and Secondary Education, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to collaborate with Turkiye during spring 2025 semester.

Her project, “Research Collaboration to Enhance K-12 Science Teachers’ Culturally Relevant Pedagogy with AI-Powered Educational Technology,” will build upon an existing international research collaboration between The Ohio State University and Boğaziçi University.

Jeong’s project is focused on enhancing K-12 science teachers’ ability to implement culturally relevant pedagogy through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered educational technology. In particular, she aims to revolutionize science education by integrating cutting-edge AI technology with culturally responsive teaching practices.

McMillian honored by Columbia University, Education Law Association

Rhodesia McMillian, assistant professor of Education Policy, has been appointed a Policy Research Fellow for 2024 inaugural class of the Black Education Research Center at Teacher's College, Columbia University. She will support the center’s mission to conduct and analyze research focused on improving the educational experiences and outcomes of students of African descent.

McMillian is an interdisciplinary scholar whose research interests and journal publications examine how federal, state and local education policies impact school governance and education policy and how educational disparities persist in K-12 public education.

Price voted VP by National Council of Teachers of English membership

Detra M. Price, professor of English Education, was elected in June as vice president for the National Council of Teachers of English. She will take office November 24, 2024.

Price, who is also the college’s executive director of the Center for Digital Education and Innovation, has been a member of the council since she was an elementary classroom teacher. She brings to the role her expertise in literacy and technology research. Her scholarly work examines the intersections of critical literacy education, technology and equity-based curriculum development in pre-K–16 classrooms.

Tyson recognized by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education 

Cynthia Tyson, professor of Elementary and Secondary Education, was named earlier this year as one of 40 Outstanding Women in Higher Education by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.

Tyson is known for introducing preservice teachers to the teaching of literature for children and adolescents. She also teaches graduate students the course covering the important institutional dimensions and complexities of equity, diversity and multiculturalism in education.

Tyson carries on the legacy of her doctoral degree mentor, Professor Emerita Rudine Sims Bishop, who wrote the now-famous 1990 essay “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors.” In a recent article, Tyson and Donna Y. Ford wrote that Bishop’s essay “posited that exposing students to multicultural literary works and the diversity of human experience … could facilitate a greater self-awareness and racial pride, along with a deeper comprehension of the world around them.

The Diverse list highlights women who have made a difference in the academy by tackling some of higher education’s toughest challenges, exhibiting extraordinary leadership skills and making a positive difference in their respective communities.

Harrison inducted as Fellow by American Society for Nutrition

Professor Emeritus Earl Harrison, Human Nutrition, was selected for induction into the American Society for Nutrition Class of 2024 Fellows. He and 14 others were honored at the Fellows, Past Presidents and 50-Year Member Luncheon held in June in Chicago, during the society’s annual flagship meeting, NUTRITION 2024.

Induction as a Fellow is the highest accolade bestowed by ASN. It honors Harrison for his significant contributions and outstanding lifetime achievements in the field of nutrition.

Hanna’s article with PhD candidate in Top Ten downloaded list

An article by Sherman D. Hanna, professor of Consumer Sciences, and then PhD candidate Dong Wong Yoon, “The Relationship Between Self-Control Factors and Household Saving Behavior,” was recently listed on the Social Science Research Network's Top Ten download list for multiple topics in the Economics Research Network. It appeared in the Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning from Springer Publishing.

Kandampully surpasses 20,000 journal citations

Research articles by Jay Kandampully, professor of Consumer Sciences and Service Management, have been cited more than 21,400 times and counting, according to Google Scholar. The prolific professor travels and presents extensively, which makes him widely known. Other scholars look to him for authoritative information.

Earlier this year, Kandampully and his co-author, David Solnet, professor of service management at the University of Queensland, brought out the fourth edition of their popular textbook Service Management Principles for Hospitality and Tourism in the Age of Digital Technology. Released by Goodfellow Publishers as an e-book, it guides managers in a holistic, cross-functional approach to meeting customers’ needs.

Li to be inducted as Fellow of National Academy of Kinesiology

Weidong Li, professor of Kinesiology, will be inducted as a Fellow by the premier professional organization dedicated to the academic study of human movement. The National Academy of Kinesiology will hold the induction ceremony later in September during its annual member meeting. 

This brings the college’s tenured faculty who are Fellows to nine. This is among the largest representation in any similarly sized university or college department in the country. The academy currently ranks the college’s doctoral Kinesiology Program as No. 1 in the nation,  adjusted for faculty size.

Li is also a research fellow of the Society of Health and Physical Education, and he chairs the research council of SHAPE of America. His latest book, released this year by Routledge, is Sports Skill Analysis. It provides physical education teachers and coaches with knowledge needed to effectively evaluate athletic performance and design effective interventions. His co-authors are two former doctoral students.