Special Education marks 50 years
Full year of events set for anniversary
The internationally acclaimed Department of Special Education is celebrating 50 years with an eye toward the future. Throughout the year, the department will honor its golden anniversary with lectures about current topics in the field, a new book, a digital reflection journal and a video chronicling the historic occasion.
The department has consistently been ranked among the best in the nation. The master's and doctorate programs were rated No. 1 in U.S. News and World Report's America's Best Colleges 2008 issue.
The celebration will begin with the inaugural Edward L. Meyen Distinguished Lecture at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, at Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Russ Whitehurst, director of the Institute of Education Sciences with the U.S. Department of Education, will discuss steps the institute has taken to create a market for research needed by special education practitioners and policymakers before they are aware such research is vital and needed.
The new lecture series is named for Edward L. Meyen, professor of special education and director of the eLearning Design Lab at KU. He has served in several administrative roles including associate vice chancellor for research and graduate studies, dean of the School of Education, and executive vice chancellor of the Lawrence campus. Meyen has published extensively on special education topics related to curriculum development, instruction and e-learning with a focus on design, production, content management and assessment related to large-scale implementation. His current work is in the area of blending assessment with standards-based instruction and instructional technology. Since 1997, he has served as co-director of the e-Learning Design Lab and was awarded the Gene A. Budig Teaching Professorship of Special Education in 2003.
Chriss Walther-Thomas, chair of the Department of Special Education, said the lecture series is a fitting tribute to Meyen.
"Ed is truly a visionary, collaborator and creative force few can resist. For example, over the past decade he has brought together the talents of KU faculty from engineering, education and related disciplines into a collaborative effort to develop new instructional designs, learning environments and online instructional programs. He is a wonderful colleague and generous mentor. Students and alumni appreciate his cutting-edge thinking, boundless enthusiasm and generous mentoring," she said.
As education is the foundation of the university, the anniversary celebrations were planned with a interdisciplinary intent. On Nov. 29, H. George Frederickson, the Edwin O. Stene Distinguished Professor of Public Administration, will give a 50th Anniversary Invited Lecture. His presentation will be titled "Accountability and Performance: When Educational Quality Speaks, Educational Equality Answers." On Feb. 11, C. Russell Middaugh, the Takeru and Aya Higuchi Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, will deliver a second 50th Anniversary Invited Lecture, "Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Drugs, Genes and Vaccines."
A book marking the department's half-century is in the works. Scheduled for publication in spring 2008, the faculty-authored book will explore previously published work by the department. The faculty authors will reflect on the work, discussing how it affected the field and evaluate its relevance in today's ever-evolving world of special education.
The department has also commissioned a special seal and medallion to commemorate the anniversary and is encouraging alumni and current students to submit anecdotes and personal stories from their time in the department for a personal reflection journal.
The department's contribution to the field of special education and its anniversary will be celebrated nationally as well. In April, a reception will be held at the Council for Exceptional Children convention in Boston. There, KU's department will introduce an annual Leadership Award and announce the inaugural inductees into its Pioneers Hall of Fame.
Department of Special Education 50th anniversary events:
- Sept. 24: Inaugural Edward L. Meyen Distinguished Lecture: "The Supply Side Economics of Education Research," Russ Whitehurst, director, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. 7 p.m., Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union
- Oct. 16: KU Professionals for Disabilities Student Series: "Getting Started and Staying on Track: Insights and Experiences on Becoming a New Professor," Yvonne Bui, Mike Faggella-Luby, Jiyeon Park, Karrie Shogren. 4:30 p.m., 150 Joseph R. Pearson Hall
- Nov. 29: 50th Anniversary Invited Lecture: Accountability and Performance: When Educational Quality Speaks, Educational Equality Answers," H. George Frederickson, the Edwin O. Stene Distinguished Professor of Public Administration. 7 p.m., Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union.
- Feb. 11: 50th Anniversary Invited Lecture: "Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Drugs, Genes and Vaccines," Russ C. Middaugh, the Takeru and Aya Higuchi Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 7 p.m. Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union.
- March 14: KU Professionals for Disabilities Student Series: "Research to Practice," Steve Graham, professor and Curry Ingram chair in special education, Vanderbilt University, 9 a.m., Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union.
- May 10: 50th Anniversary Professional Development Day, Kansas Union. Faculty, graduate students and alumni will share their work during a conference for practicing professionals.
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