University Slates Second Summer Educational Leadership Conference

Texas A&M International University's College of Education will host the second in its continuing Educational Leadership Seminars on Friday, June 20 from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. in Bullock Hall 101 at A&M International.

Dr. Rosa Maria Vida, Interim Dean of the College of Education, said the seminar series has proven a popular way for local and area administrators to access recent research and insight from highly respected academicians.

"We have had tremendous response to this series with over 120 local educational administrators participating in our last installment. We firmly believe that this outreach effort is one of our most important initiatives to date. Educational systems are in a perpetual state of change and seminars like this offer participants an ideal mechanism to receive information and participate in peer-level dialogue," Dr. Vida explained.

Registration, which may be paid in advance or at the door, is $25 per participant and $15 per graduate student.

"Building Communities: The Summer Educational Leadership Conference" is sponsored by the College of Education's Department of Professional Program Educational Administration.

Keynote speaker for the event will be Dr. Dean C. Corrigan, Ruth Harrington Endowed Chair in Educational Leadership at Texas A&M University.

Dr. Corrigan's topic will be "The Role of Educational Leaders in Building Communities." The presentation will explore the complexity of educational systems, identifying leadership qualities necessary for successful community building and how educational leaders can play a vital role in building communities that foster an atmosphere of responsibility of hope and caring.

Corrigan served as Dean of the College of Education at A&M from 1980-1989. As the Ruth Harrington Endowed Chair, professor Corrigan teaches graduate courses in the politics of education, policy issues in higher education, problem resolution in educational organizations and leadership in interprofessional education. In addition, he serves as director of Commitment to Education, a program that involves the university, the public schools and the private sector.

He holds his doctorate from Columbia University's Teachers College. His masters was also earned at Columbia. His Bachelor's degree was received from Keene State College in New Hampshire. He also holds an honorary Doctor of Science degree awarded by the trustees of the University of New Hampshire.

The author of over 100 scholarly publications, his insight has informed educational conferences around the world, including the 10th World Congress of the World Organization for Educational Research held in Prague, Czechoslovakia. In 1996, he presented a keynote address at the 21st Annual Conference of Association for Teacher Education held in Glasgow, Scotland.

He was a member of the Select Committee on Public Education in Texas; an advisor to the National Committee for Economic Development and a member of the National Technology Medal Nomination Committee. He recently served on the Texas State Board of Education 1992 Task Force that produced One Student at a Time, a plan to guide the future of education in Texas high schools. He currently chairs the National Commission on Leadership in Interprofessional Education.

He received the Ted Booker Memorial Award as Outstanding Educator in Texas in 1984. In 1989, he was presented the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award and the Robert B. Howsam Award for Educational Leadership by the Texas Association of Colleges for Teachers Education.

He was presented the University Faculty Scholar/Artist Teaching Award by the Phi Delta Kappa Honor Society in 1991 and the Pomeroy Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teacher Education in 1993.

Earlier this year, he was presented the Presidential Award by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Conference.

For additional information on "Building Communities: The Summer Educational Leadership Conference," please contact Dr. Rosa Maria Vida at 326. 2420, or visit College of Education Office in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, Room 328.

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu