Dr. Bill Muth

Bill Muth, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning where he serves in the adult learning program.  Dr. Muth  joined the faculty in the 2005-2006 academic year following a career as Education Director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons. He teaches the beginning course in the adult learning program sequence, and his nominator praised his ability to reach and connect with the adult learners in his class, many who are described as mature adults who have been out of the academic environment and in the workforce for a number of years. Dr. Muth has been praised as a role model for exceptional teaching practices – students find him approachable, accessible and willing to listen to their ideas.  His nominator stated, “he has the ability to make learning fun and to instill confidence in even the most hesitant that the ability to achieve excellence lies within.”

Dr. Joan Rhodes and Dr. Yaoying Xu

Assistant Professor Joan Rhodes, Ph.D., joined the Department of Teaching and Learning in the 2004-2005 academic year and wasted no time in forging a scholarship agenda in the area of reading education, particularly the reading proficiency of young readers. Along with a collaborative research team, Dr. Rhodes has secured more than $7.8 million in grant funding – most of which has come from federal sources to support early reading practices. She has published six refereed and four non-refereed papers, a book chapter, and four abstracts from papers presented. Currently, she has another two manuscripts accepted for publication.  Dr. Rhodes has presented at international, national, state and local levels and has done much to contribute to best practices in reading instruction, particularly with limited English learners and with students who have learning disabilities.

Assistant Professor Yaoying Xu, Ph.D., joined the Department of Special Education and Disability Policy in the Fall of 2006, coming to us from a faculty position at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.  Dr. Xu hit the ground running with a well-defined and highly ambitious research agenda. She has a major research interest in culturally and linguistically appropriate assessments for children with special needs. In her first academic year she had five peer reviewed manuscripts accepted for publication, one professional report published and delivered 15 peer-reviewed presentations, 11 of which were at national and international conferences. She has continued that level of productivity during this academic year with another five peer reviewed manuscripts accepted for publication in notable journals in her field during this academic year. Her nominator stated, “I am honored to be working with Dr. Xu as my colleague. She has been a valuable addition to the School of Education faculty, for her research acumen, her collegiality, and her dedication to advancing the field.”

Dr. Lisa Abrams

The Award of Excellence is not presented every year. Rather, it is awarded when a faculty member has been identified as having contributed significantly in all areas of faculty responsibility:  teaching, scholarship, and service. While this award has traditionally been awarded to a senior faculty member, this year it is presented to Lisa Abrams, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Foundations of Education. In her four years in the School of Education, Dr. Abrams is clearly first and foremost an outstanding teacher of research methods. Graduate students comment on her ability to take complex terminology and methodology and translate this information in a way that students not only develop a conceptual understanding but are able to apply their knowledge to their own research investigations. In addition to her classroom instruction, Dr. Abrams has served on 17 doctoral committees, and eight of her students have defended to date. As a scholar, she has focused on classroom assessment, grading strategies, and the impact of state-wide high stakes testing on student achievement. She has been a co-author on numerous peer reviewed publications, including those in leading journals in the field as well as book chapters focused on assessment practices. Dr. Abrams, along with department chair Dr. Jim McMillan, were commissioned by VCU's Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute to review trends in statewide graduation rates and remedial initiatives. Dr. Abrams has also provided numerous service contributions not only to the School of Education but to the university and her professional discipline. She represents the School of Education on the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects. Associate Vice President for Research Development, Dr. Ann Nichols-Casebolt, indicates that Dr. Abrams is not only a valued committee member but is often consulted as the expert in social science research methodology. Students and faculty have also benefited from Dr. Abrams’ expertise. She is highly sought as a research methodologist on doctoral committees and has contributed to the Office of Doctoral Studies through reading countless numbers of comprehensive examination responses. Perhaps, most importantly, Dr. Abrams is viewed as a highly collaborative, collegial member of the School of Education community. She is thoughtful and reflective in deliberations and is a kind and caring mentor in her service to students, although they will tell you she sets the bar high in her expectations of the quality of their work. The nominators commented, “Her contributions have been significant, and we are all the better for them.”