College of Education
PO Box 5774
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5774
(928) 523-2611
COE Connections
We have been delighted with the connections we are beginning to make through our new College of Education alumni web pages and newsletter. We appreciate hearing from all of you. The history of our college and its alumna is diverse and rich. While we would love to give every COE alumni a featured spot in both our newsletter and on our web site, currently that is not feasible. We would appreciate receiving news of the highlights of your time at COE and the road you have traveled since. We are able to post more to our web pages than we are able to print in our newsletter. Please check back often to re-discover old friends and make new ones.
Dr. Josephine Agnew-Tally
Associate Dean, School for Education
Park University
Dr. Agnew-Tally attended NAU from 1983 to 1988 in the Master’s of Educational Leadership Program and Doctoral Program in Education through the former Center for Excellence in Education. Her doctoral dissertation was an ethnography on the Program for Learning Competent Teaching, one of the first Professional Development School Partnerships in the former Center for Excellence in Education. Her research and publications have focused on qualitative research related to equity, diversity, and gender development in young children.
Dr. Agnew-Tally has served in a variety of educational positions throughout her professional career, including: Montessori Teacher and Early Childhood Special Education in Texas; Special Education Teacher in Phoenix, Arizona and Kansas; Assistant Professor of Special Education at state universities in Missouri, Texas, and Kansas; and Director of the Child Development Center and Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. In addition, Dr. Agnew served as the CEC President for the Kansas Federation; a Visiting Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; President of the Missouri’s NAEYC Teacher Educator’s Association, and Senior Coordinator for Dr. Carl Dunst at the Family, Infant, and Preschool Program at the Western Carolina Center. She currently serves as the Associate Dean of the School for Education at Park University in Parkville, Missouri. In this role, she is responsible for the Education Programs in 43 Academic Centers.
Favorite teacher:
Dr. Peggy VerVelde, Professor of Language and Literacy, who authored, developed, and implemented the first Professional Development School Partnership in the Center for Excellence in Education, was truly a gifted teacher. Dr. VerVelde was dedicated to highest of standards in training students to teach in the areas of Language and Literacy. She was an exemplary teacher who was greatly respected and appreciated by her students. In addition to her favorite teacher, Dr. Agnew-Tally had high praise for Dr. Eddie Sage, her advisor during her doctoral studies at NAU. Of Dr. Sage, Dr. Agnew-Tally shares, "He was an outstanding advisor! Dr. Sage was always there for students. He was the one students would seek out when all else failed. He challenged me to uphold the highest of standards in the research and writing of my dissertation. He modeled excellence in advising, teaching, research, and service. I will never forget Dr. Sage! It was truly an honor to have had him as my advisor."
Memorable moments: "As a single parent and doctoral student, there were times when completing my doctorate seemed like an impossible goal. The support of my friends at my church, friendships with my fellow students, and the guidance and mentoring of the professors at NAU were all tied to my success. I will never forget the time Jesse Jackson came to campus and presented on the topics of equity, access, and excellence with many of the Chiefs of the Native American tribes from the area. I will also never forget the time I had to dig my car out of 10-12 feet of snow in order to take my own kids to school and go onto class or work!"
Advice for NAU students: "My advice to students today is to first understand and appreciate the impressive history of the College of Education at NAU. Students need to know that they are part of one of the very best education programs in the country. I advise students to work towards the goal of life long learning and to remember to seek a positive balance in their lives."
Jo Agnew-Tally
Josephine C. Agnew-Tally, Ed.D.
Associate Dean, School for Education
Park University
8700 NW River Park Drive
Parkville, MO 64152
816-584-6335
josephine.agnewtally@park.edu
Dr. Talley sent this piece after visiting our web site and reading the feature spot on Dr. Barbara Price.
Charles Juenger sent the following information via email after receiving our Fall/Winter 2006 newsletter. Charles earned his Bachelors in Elementary Education Preparation in 1975. He retired in 2005 after 31 years in education; most of those years were spent in the Gadsden Elementary School District where he retired as assistant superintendent. Charles writes that retirement is wonderful, now he has ample time for hiking, volunteer work at Tonto Natural Bridge, reading and travel.
David Pape sent the following e.mail in response to our Fall/Winter 2006 newsletter. In 1974 I received my M.A. degree in Education (Guidance & Counseling) from Northern Arizona University. I was recently elected, the 2007, President and State Coordinator of PFLAG-Phoenix, (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).
PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through support, education, and advocacy. PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
PFLAG has more than 500 chapters nationwide, with over 250,000 members, supporters, and affiliates, representing the largest chapter network in the struggle for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) rights. There are five PFLAG chapters in the Phoenix metro-area, with additional chapters in Flagstaff, Page, Lake Havasu, Payson and Tucson.
Gwendolyn Udall earned her bachelors in 1957 and her master’s in 1959, both in elementary education. Gwen sent us this note in response to receiving our newsletters: "Thanks so much. Enjoyed it. I’m 89 but can still read about my alma mater."
If you know a distinguished alum who would like to share a story about his or her career or experience at Northern Arizona University, please contact Laura Theimer at 928.523.8746 or email Laura.Theimer@nau.edu.
