By Michelle Hines, University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-5371
Posted 5-14-09
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The School of Education has honored 11 alumni with 2009 Distinguished Alumni awards.
“The School of Education alumni awards recognize the outstanding achievements of our alumni and are part of our broader outreach effort to build strong connections with our many alumni,” said Dale Schunk, dean of the school.
Awards were presented Friday, May 8, at a special ceremony held in Ferguson Building. Winners were:
Early Career Awards
• Ted Burcaw. Burcaw received his master’s degree in school administration from the School Of Education. His bachelor’s degree is from Moravian College, and he also earned a Master of Divinity degree from Moravian Theological Seminary at Wake Forest University. He works for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools as principal of Cook Elementary School.
• Julie Duffy Dillon. Dillon received her master’s degree in community counseling from the School of Education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human and consumer sciences from Ohio University. Since 2005 she has been president and owner of Julie Dillon Consulting, which specializes in individual and group interventions for persons affected by eating disorders and obesity.
• Adam Murray. Murray earned his master’s of library and information studies degree from the School of Education. He also has a doctorate in educational leadership from Western Kentucky University and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and religion from UNC Wilmington. He is interim dean of the University Libraries at Murray State University.
• Donyell Roseboro. Roseboro received her PhD in curriculum and teaching/cultural studies from the School of Education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from UNC-Chapel Hill and a master’s in history from Wake Forest. She is a faculty member in secondary social studies education at UNC Wilmington. Her academic interests are social justice, teacher preparation, critical race theory and feminist theory.
• Travis Reeves. Reeves received an educational specialist degree as well as a doctoral degree in educational leadership from the School of Education. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history and social science from Radford University, and his master’s in school administration from Gardner-Webb University. Since 2007 he has been principal at Eastern Guilford High School. In July, he will begin a new career as superintendent of the Ashe County Schools.
Outstanding Achievement Awards
• Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy. Holcomb-McCoy received her PhD in counseling and counselor education from the School of Education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and her master’s degree in school counseling from the University of Virginia. She is an associate professor and clinical/field experiences coordinator in the Department of Counseling and Personnel Services at the University of Maryland at College Park.
• Benita Lawrence. Lawrence holds three degrees from the School of Education – a bachelor’s in elementary education, a master’s of school administration and a doctorate in educational leadership. Since 2003 she has served as principal of Monticello-Brown Summit Elementary School.
Distinguished Career Awards
• Chris Greene. Greene received her master’s degree in counselor education from the School of Education. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from East Carolina University. She spent nine years as a classroom teacher, 22 years as a counselor at Ragsdale High School, four years as a part-time counselor and one year as an early college academy director. Gov. Bev Perdue appointed her to the State Board of Education.
• Gloria Miller. Miller received her master’s degree in library and information studies from the School of Education. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in business education and library science from Bennett College. She has worked for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in various capacities including as a media services director and specialist, acquisitions and cataloging specialist, technical services coordinator and librarian. She also has served as an adjunct faculty member at Winthrop University, Appalachian State University, Central Piedmont Community College and UNCG.
• Paula Myrick Short. Short received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the School of Education. She also holds a master’s degree in middle grades education with a concentration in history and a PhD in administration from UNC-Chapel Hill. She is the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the Tennessee Board of Regents, which is the sixth largest higher education system in the U.S. with 182,000 students, six universities, 13 community colleges and 26 technology centers.
Distinguished Service Award
• Nancy Vacc. Vacc received her PhD in curriculum and teaching from the School of Education. Previously she earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the State University of New York College at Potsdam and a master’s in elementary education and reading from the State University of New York College at Fredonia. She joined the School of Education faculty in 1987 after teaching at Bennett College for two years. Nancy is retired and lives in Gainesville, Fla. She serves on the SOE Advisory Board, the University of Florida Shands Medical Center Ethics Committee and on the University of Florida Lady Gator Golf Boosters Club.
