Research, Impact and Achievements: May 2024

AERA Recognition

Sarah WoulfinAssociate Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy 

Peng PengAssistant Professor, Special Education 

The American Educational Research Association (AERA) has selected Dr. Sarah Woulfin and Dr. Peng Peng as Outstanding Reviewers for 2023. Dr. Woulfin functioned as a reviewer for the American Educational Research Journal while Dr. Peng Peng served for the Review of Educational Research. Both faculty members were invited to celebrate the recognition of their work at the AERA Publications Reception at AERA’s 2024 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia in April. 

Educational Leadership and Policy

Diana Cervantes Doctoral Candidate

The Council for the Study of Community Colleges awarded Diana Cervantes the 2024 Outstanding Doctoral Student Award during its conference in Pittsburgh, PA last month. Congratulations to Diana, soon to be Dr. Cervantes, on receiving this honor!

Martha N. OvandoProfessor Emerita

Dr. Martha N. Ovando has been selected by the Alcalde, the official publication of the Texas Exes, as a Texas 10 Professor for 2023-24. Since 2011, the Alcalde has asked alumni to nominate their most inspiring professors from their time on the Forty Acres. Dr. Ovando and nine others will be recognized with a feature in the magazine’s May/June issue. Congratulations, Dr. Ovando, on this special recognition!  

Anna Drake WarshawPh.D. ’17, Educational Administration 

Dr. Anna Drake Warshaw has been tapped to be the next president of The Associated Colleges of the South (ACS), a consortium of sixteen nationally recognized colleges and universities committed to providing excellent and accessible liberal arts education. She will begin her new role on July 1, 2024. Dr. Warshaw served most recently as managing director of the University Innovation Alliance, a national consortium of public research universities committed to increasing the number and diversity of college graduates.  

National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD)

Dr. Edward J. Leach Executive Director

Dr. Edward J. Leach, who has served as executive director of NISOD for 11 years, has announced his intention to retire starting August 15, 2024. Since joining NISOD in 2013, Dr. Leach launched several successful programs and shepherded the organization through the pandemic as it transitioned to remove operations and virtual learning experiences while remaining focused on its mission to empower and celebrate community and technical college educators. The College of Education wishes to express its gratitude to Dr. Leach for his leadership of NISOD and for a career dedicated higher education as he embarks on the next chapter of his life.