Dear friends and colleagues,

This month I had the opportunity to experience one of my favorite moments of the year: presenting a School of Education student with the Jeanne Spilde Gonzenbach Scholarship.

Makenzie Dean is an elementary education and special education double major, and she will receive $20,000 over the next two years thanks to the generous gifts of Max and Jeanne Gonzenbach. You can watch Makenzie receive the great news in this video.

We appreciate your support as we prepare leaders like Makenzie to impact their communities and shape our future.
Dean Donald Easton-Brooks, Ph.D.
University of South Dakota School of Education
March Highlights
Avoseh Receives Fulbright Award
School of Education professor Mejai Bola Mike Avoseh, Ph.D., has received a Core Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to conduct research and teach in Nigeria.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Avoseh will spend the 2019/2020 academic year at Obafemi Awolowo University as part of his project, “MẸDAGBE: Ogu Indigenous Philosophy as Framework for Diaspora and Global Citizenship.”

This is the second time Avoseh has been selected for a Fulbright award; during the 2013/14 academic year, Avoseh taught and researched in Botswana, Namibia and Nigeria. 

Faculty and Students at NASP Convention
USD school psychology faculty and students presented at the 2019 Annual National Association of School Psychologists Convention this week. We are particularly proud of doctoral students Brittany Lewno, Annie Kuznik and Karissa Jensen for presenting their research to a national audience.
Head Start Families Volunteer Over 36,000 Hours
Between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019, Head Start parents contributed over 36,000 hours towards working with their children in the program. To celebrate, USD Head Start is inviting supporters of Head Start to dance for 5-10 minutes on April 10. Congratulations, USD Head Start!
Faculty Spotlight
De Jong Shares Research in eSchool News
In his blog post published in  eSchool News , David De Jong, Ed.D., assistant professor of Educational Leadership, describes the impact of using computer simulations as professional development tools for school leaders. He writes,

 "Simulations can help [school leaders] connect to each other, understand how their peers face down the same professional challenges, and come away excited and enriched."

Strouse and Colleagues Receive Funding from South Dakota Space Grant Consortium
Gabrielle Strouse, Ph.D., and faculty from Sout h Dakota School of Mines and Technology have received a grant from the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium, which is funded by NASA, to study virtual reality and education. In particular, Strouse will study learning. Congratulations to all!
Hajovsky Recognized as Professor of the Game
Please join us in congratulating Daniel Hajovsky, Ph.D., assistant professor and program director of school psychology, on being recognized as Professor of the Game at the women's basketball game on March 2!
Pickett Researches Weight Loss Products and Body Image
Drew Pickett, Ph.D., and colleague Natasha Brison, Ph.D., researched men's body image and the effectiveness of weight loss product advertisement strategies. The study, "Lose like a man: Body image and celebrity endorsement effects of weight loss product purchase intentions," was published in the International Journal of Advertising.

Student Spotlight
Valeriah Big Eagle
Congratulations to Valeriah Big Eagle, who is pursuing an Ed.D. in Adult and Higher Education at the University of South Dakota, on being named to Prairie Business magazine's 2018 40 Under 40 List. The magazine states,

"Guide. Connector. Mentor. Valeriah is doing the hard work in the trenches, working with some of the most vulnerable populations in our region to create opportunities for successful lives. Her committed work is having a positive effect on the current generation; this impact will continue into future generations, who are seeing the possibilities that education and earning a degree create."

Allison Arens
Congratulations to senior education major Allison Arens on completing a successful season with the USD women's basketball team! Allison competed in the NCAA Tournament and was recognized on Senior Day for women's basketball.

Silent Auction Raises Over $1,000 for Veterans
USD elementary education students raised $1,180 for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3061 at their art exhibit and silent auction in February. Jing Williams, Ph.D., leads this activity twice each year, and her students set a new record for the fundraiser this semester.
Student-athletes at NCAA Championships
Congratulations to the four USD student-athletes who competed in the NCAA Indoor Championships — three of whom are School of Education students!

  • Zack Anderson - physical education major
  • Lara Boman - kinesiology and sport management graduate assistant
  • Chris Nilsen - kinesiology and sport management major
CAEP Accreditation: Call for Comments
The School of Education at the University of South Dakota is hosting an accreditation visit by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) on November 5, 2019. Interested parties are invited to submit third-party comments to the site team. Please note that comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered, and should specify the party's relationship to the provider (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates).

For more information about submitting testimonials, please visit our website .
If you have a news item that you'd like to submit for an upcoming issue of our newsletter, please reach out to Bailey at Bailey.Quanbeck@usd.edu