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Distinguished Alumni Award

Distinguished Alumni Award

The Indiana University School of Education Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed upon an alum by the School. The award was founded in 1977 to recognize alumni who have enhanced the reputation of the school by distinguishing themselves in their careers and have made significant contributions to their community, state and nation through professional service, public service and civic activities.

Starting in 2020, the annual awards are given in four categories:

Excellence in PreK-12 Education Award

The Excellence in PreK-12 Education Award recognizes IU School of Education alumni who have excelled in PreK-12 education by providing leadership in the use of innovative classroom methods, programs or other initiatives.

Excellence in Higher Education Award

The Excellence in Higher Education Award recognizes IU School of Education alumni who are transforming higher education through exceptional programs, innovative services, and effective leadership.

Early Career Achievement Award

The Early Career Achievement Award recognizes IU School of Education alumni who have made outstanding professional contributions to the field of education and received their degree from the IU School of Education within the last ten years.

Outstanding Alumni Award

The Outstanding Alumni Award recognizes graduates who have excelled in their chosen field and demonstrated exceptional civic service and/or charitable responsibility to effect positive social change.

Submit a nomination

Page banner: 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners. From left: Carole Ames, David Ambler, Dean Lemuel Watson, Marilyn Friend, and Karen Schuster Webb. Top inset: Dean Watson addresses guests at the 2018 DAA dinner. Bottom left: Dean Watson visiting with guests at the 2018 DAA dinner. Bottom right: view of the 2018 DAA dinner from the 2nd floor balcony.

Awardees

	David A. Ambler, Ed.D. (Ed.D.'66) Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Emeritus The University of Kansas
	Carole Ames, Ph.D. (M.S.’68) Dean Emerita Michigan State University College of Education
	Marilyn Friend, Ph.D. (M.S.’78, Ph.D.’81) Professor Emerita The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
	Karen Schuster Webb, Ph.D. (M.S.’73, Ph.D.’80) President Union Institute & University

	Dena Cushenberry-Burrello (Ed.S.’09, Ed.D.’12) Retired Superintendent of Schools MSD Warren Township
	Judith A. DeMuth (Ed.D.’99) Superintendent of Schools Monroe County Community School Corporation
	James B. Luther (Ph.D.’92) Owner & President Luther Consulting, LLC
	Frederick A. Taylor, Jr. (B.S.’73) Administrator Zephyrhills Health & Rehabilitation Center

	Brady Barr, PhD (BS’87) Children’s Book Author & Educator/herpetologist/owner Eco Adventures Nature Center
	Saisuree Chutikul, EdD (MS’57, EdD’62) Chairperson/Member of multiple National Committees in Thailand Country of Thailand
	Ted S. Hasselbring, EdD (BS’71, EdD’79) Professor of Special Education Vanderbilt University
	Edson W. Sample (MS’71) Retired Director for Financial Aid Indiana University

	Kimberly L. King-Jupiter, PhD (MS’93, PhD’98) Special Assistant for Research Initiatives Division of Research and Sponsored Programs Tennessee State University
	Angela M. McNelis, PhD, RN (MS’90) Professor and Associate Dean for Scholarship, Innovation, and Clinical Science George Washington University School of Nursing
	A.Y. “Fred” Ramirez, PhD (PhD’99) Professor of Education, Concordia University, Irvine Executive Director of EdActs Global
	Elizabeth J. Whitt (PhD’88) Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education Professor in Sociology University of California, Merced

	Robert E. Draba, PhD, JD (BS'68) Trial Attorney, Antitrust Division United States Department of Justice Washington, DC
	Peggy A. Hinckley, EdD (BS'74) Educational Consultant, School Improvement Retired Superintendent
	R. Elizabeth Odle (MS'74) Retired Program Director, Bridges to Success United Way of Central Indiana
	Pat Wilson (BS'71, MS'77) Department Chair and Teacher Bloomington High School North

Richard E. Bishop, EdD (BS'61, MS'71, EdD'77) Retired, Executive Assistant to the President
Indiana University Foundation

Shaun R. Harper, PhD (MS'00, PhD'03)
Associate Professor and Executive Director
Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education
University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education

Jann Keenan, EdS (MS'79, EdS'80)
Instructional Designer for Health Literacy/Health Equity
The Keenan Group, Inc.

Stanley Warren, EdD (EdS'71, EdD'73)
Retired Dean, Academic Affairs and Professor of Education
DePauw University

Abdul Farouk Ahmed (MS'79)
Consultant, Human Resources and Organizational Change & Managing Director, ICC Consultants Centre

Maurice C. Daniels, EdD (BA'72, MS'75, EdD'82)
Dean and Professor, Senior Researcher and Executive Producer, University of Georgia, School of Social Work

David A. Lepkojus (BS'74)
Head Teacher/Supervisor, Counselor, Administrator, Bureau of Indian Education, United States Department of the Interior, Many Farms High School

Dr. Victor A. Smith (MS'72, EdD'77)
Retired, Associate Director, Indiana Urban School Association

Patricia A. Payne (BS'64, MS'75)
Director, Crispus Attucks Museum

Gerald O. Thompkins, Ph.D. (BS'70, MS'77)
Director, STEM Education and Research Center, Kent State University

James E. Weigand (EdD'64)
Dean Emeritus, School of Continuing Studies, Indiana University

Christine O. Cheney (EdD'84)
Dean and Professor of Special Education
University of Nevada College of Education

W. Rob Foshay (PhD'77)
Director, Research for the Educational Technology Group
Texas Instruments

James D. Mervilde (MS'81, Spclst'86, EdD'00)
Retired Superintendent
MSD of Washington Township, Indianapolis

Douglas Harris (MS'64, EdD'68)
Retired, Vice President, Knight Ridder Corporation

Earlene Holland (EdS'80)
Retired, Associate Provost, Oakland City University

Keith Jepsen (EdD'84)
President, Global Student Loan Corporation

Youngsoo Kim (PhD'83)
Director, Institute for Teaching & Learning, Ewha Women’s University, Seoul Korea

YoungHwan Kim (PhD'94)

Joseph Russell (MS'68, EdD'70)

H.A.R. Tilaar (MA'66, EdD'67)

Dennis C. Hayes (BS'74, JD'77)

Rodney P. Kirsch (MS'82)

Hazel R. Tribble (MA'75)

B. James Dawson (EdD'84)

Michael Hanes (BS'70, MS'72, PhD'73)

Nathaniel Jones (BS'73, MS'77, Spclst'82)

Patricia Lather (PhD'83)

Bonita S. Beaumont (BS'76)

Carole L. Hahn (EdD'73)

Sharon Robinson Kurpius (PhD'78)

Victor Boschini (EdD'89)

Dale Fuqua (PhD'80)

Sivasailam Thiagarajan (PhD'71, MS'70)

Rick Crosslin (MS'81)

Bonnie Litwiller (MAT'65, EdD'68)

Cynthia Witterhold Cleveland (BS'74, MS'76)

Thomas D. Oakland (MS '65, PhD'67)

Toby Strout (MS'74, PhD'91)

Yvonna S. Lincoln (EdD'78)

Nancy L. Roser (MS'70, EdD'70)

2019 Awardees

Distinguished Alumni Award