Alumni Awards
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients - Archives
2012 Distinguished Alumni Award RecipientsKevin Jennings ’94
Jennings was the Assistant Deputy Secretary on the Obama Administration for the office of Safe & Drug-free Schools. He is the CEO and president of“Be the Change” (a non-profit) and established the nation’s first Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA).
Lucille Joel’70
Joel is an expert in the field of nursing. She has written and presented on nursing and health issues on the local, national and international level and is a tenured professor at Rutgers University, where she has taught for over 20 years.
John King '08
King is the New York Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York. He serves on U.S. Department of Education’s Equity and Excellence Commission.
Harold J. Noah '64
Noahis an internationally recognized authority in Comparative Education. He is Gardner Cowles Professor Emeritus in Economics and Education, and former Dean of Teachers College. He has given his name to the Harold J.Noah Alumni Award in International and Comparative Education for alumni within the program.
Robert Schaffer '52
Schaffer founded Schaffer Consulting and has authored books such as The Breakthrough Strategy; Rapid Results; High-Impact Consulting. Since the1960s, thousands of individuals have trained under Schaffer in his“High-Impact Consulting Workshop” - the longest running professional workshop for staff consultants).
2012 Early Career Award Recipient
Betty Perez-Rivera '03
Perez-Rivera is the Director of the East Harlem Asthma Center of Excellence Walk-In Center and spearheaded, wrote, and presented the Family Asthma Guide, now used nationwide.
2012 President's Award of High Distinction
Pola Rosen '80
Rosenis a graduate of Barnard College and completed her doctoral work in special education at Teachers College, Columbia University. She served as a teacher, supervisor and professor of special education at CUNY. For the past 15 years, she has been the publisher of Education Update, a newspaper with over 100,000 readers that receives over 2 million hits on its website (www.educationupdate.com) monthly. She has won numerous awards for her work and serves on the boards of Landmark College in Vermont and the Kennedy Child Study Center in NYC as well as on the Education Dean’s Advisory Council at Mercy College in Westchester County.
2012 President's Medal of Excellence
Matthew Pittinsky '08
Pittinsky is the Chief Executive Officer of Parchment, an education data company and leading provider of academic records and transcripts for educational institutions. In 1997 he co-founded Blackboard Inc., serving first as chief executive officer and then executive chairman. Millions of students across the world use Blackboard technologies, which enable institutions of learning to engage students on their own terms and electronic devices.
2012 TC Medal of Distinguished Service
Jeffrey Sachs
Sachs is the director of The Earth Institute, Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development, and professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University. He is also a special advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. For more than 20 years Professor Sachs has been in the forefront of the challenges of economic development, poverty alleviation, and enlightened globalization, promoting policies to help all parts of the world to benefit from expanding economic opportunities and well-being. He is considered to be the leading international economic adviser of his generation. He is author of hundreds of scholarly articles and many books, including the New York Times bestsellers The Price of Civilization.
2011 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Samuel P. Peabody ’59
Peabody founded Reality House, a drug rehabilitation center in northern Manhattan before becoming the director of Broad Jump, a nonprofit for at-risk students. While there, he helped found Prep for Prep, a program that places promising students of color in independent schools throughout the Northeast and helps support them through to college. He also served as chair of the Citizen’s Committee for Children before retiring.
Violeta Petroska-Beshka ’83
Petroska-Beshka is a professor of psychology at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. She is a co-founder and co-director of the Center for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, a training and research center dedicated to promoting human rights and advancing diversity education and conflict resolution in multicultural settings. She works closely with UNICEF and USAID funded organizations as a leading player in efforts to reform the education system throughout the country.
Diane Ravitch ’75
Ravitch is Research Professor of Education at New York University and a historian of education. In addition, she is a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. She shares a blog called Bridging Differences with Deborah Meier, hosted by Education Week and also blogs for Politico.com/arena and the Huffington Post. Her articles have appeared in many newspapers and magazines. She is the author of 10 books.
Ruth Christ Sullivan ’53
Sullivan, an advocate for autism for over 40 years, is the founder and executive director of the Autism Services Center in Huntington, WV. She was the first president of the National Society for Autistic Children, now Autism Society of America and founded several local and state chapters. She was the first autism lobbyist in US Congress and two states. Sullivan is an expert witness for court proceedings, a public speaker and a consultant, most notably for the movie “Rain Man.”
Samuel Totten ’85
Since 1987, Totten has taught at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where he co-developed the Middle Level Master of Arts Program (MAT) and founded the Northwest Arkansas Writing Project (NWAWP). Totten’s passion in life and the primary focus of his research is the prevention and intervention of genocide and is the co-founding editor of Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal (University of Toronto Press).
2011 Early Career Award Recipient
Paul O’Neill ’01
O’Neill is an education attorney, author and professor who focuses on guiding education organizations through challenges and growth. O’Neill has held lead attorney positions in government, boutique education law firms, a non-profit organization, and the private sector. He is currently President of Tugboat Education Services, which advises education reform organizations on regulatory and strategic matters, and a Principal in the boutique education law practice group of Cohen Schneider LLP.
2011 President's Medal of Excellence Recipients
Ian K. Smith ’93
Smith is currently a medical contributor to ABC’s nationally syndicated, “The View”, a medical columnist for Men’s Health magazine, and the medical/diet expert on VH1’s “Celebrity Fit Club.” Smith is also the host of the nationally syndicated radio show Healthwise on American Urban Radio Networks. Smith created the "50 Million Pound Challenge” and the “Makeover Mile” and has published multiple books including the Fat Smash Diet and Happy. Smith has been appointment by President Obama to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.
2011 President's Award of High Distinction
Janna Spark '79
Sparks studied interdisciplinary psychology courses in the Special Education doctoral program. Besides testing, diagnosing and treatment, Spark has developed a unique multi-sensory program, Brain Train, published by Simon & Schuster, which utilizes music to help processing information and develop competence in tasks requiring an integration of skills. Sparks has also published Goose and Hug ’O War and is also an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society.
________________________________________________________
2010 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
The Reverend Lesley George Anderson, Ed.D. 1987, International Education Development, President, of the United Theological Seminary of the West Indies
Raphael M. Ortiz, Ed.D. 1982, Analysis of Art Teaching, Founder of Museo Del Barrio
Viola Vaughn, Ed.D 1984, Health Education, Founder of 10,000 Girls in Senegal, West Africa
Vivian Ota Wang, Ph.D 1995, Counseling Psychology, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Agency Representative of the National Science and Technology Council
2010 Early Career Award Recipient
Luis Rios, Jr., M.Phil 2001, Teaching of Spanish, Education Consultant, California Department of Education
2010 President's Medal of Excellence Recipients
Nahas Angula, Prime Minister of Namibia, M. Ed. 1979; MA 1978 Curriculum & Teaching
Ulysses Byas, MA 1952, Educational Administration
________________________________________________________
2008-2009 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Edward Dunkelblau, M. Ed. 1976, Vocational & Rehabilitation Counseling
Joan Dye Gussow, Ed.D. 1975, M.Ed. 1974, Nutrition Education
Patricia Lynne Duffy, M.A., TESOL, 1981
Rawley Applebaum Silver, M.A. Ed. - Fine Arts, 1936
2008 - 2009 Early Career Award Recipient
Keiichi Ogawa, Ph.D. 1999, M. Phil 1997, M.A. 1997, Ed. M. 1995, Comparative International Ed. / Econ of Ed.
________________________________________________________
2007 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Susan H. Fuhrman, Ph.D. 1977, Political Science and Education
Anie Kalayjian, Ed.D. 1986, Nursing Education
Leah Cahan Schaefe, Ed.D. 1964, Family and Community Education
2007 Early Career Award Recipients
Michael Lowry, M.A. 2005, Educational Administration
Sharon K. Ryan, Ed.D. 1998, Early Childhood Education
__________________________________________________________
2006 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Joyce B. Cowin, M.A. 1952, Curriculum and Teaching
2006 Early Career Award Recipients
__________________________________________________________
2005 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
John Fanselow, Ph.D. 1971, Language, Literature & Social Studies
Robert Hilliard, Ph.D. 1959, Communication & Theatre Arts
Kathleen Dunlevy Morin, M.A. 1977, Ed.M. 1978, Ed.D. 1985, Urban Education
2005 Early Career Award Recipients
__________________________________________________________
2004 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Betty Reardon, Ed.D. 1985, International Education Development.
Lan Tran Gien, Ed.M. Nursing Education.
Martin Haberman, M.A. 1957, Ed.D. 1962, Curriculum & Teaching.
Rita Gold*, M.A. 1962, English Education.
Ruth Gottesman, M.A. 1958, Remedial Reading. Ed.D. 1968, Human Cognition & Learning.
2004 Early Career Award Recipients
Sheila Amato, M.A. 1975, Health Education. Ed.M. 1996, Instructional Practices in Special Education. Ed.D. 2000, Blind and Visual Impairment.
2003 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Jill Wilkinson Sheffield, M.A. 1963, Comparative & International Education.
Betty J. Sternberg, M.A. 1972, Mathematics Education.
2003 Early Career Award Recipients
Frances McCue, Ed.D. 2001, English Education.
2002 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Lois Bloom, Ph.D. 1968, Psychology.
Mort Lindsey, M.A. 1948, Ed.M. 1974, Music and Music Education.
Ellen Condliffe Lagemann, MA 1968 PhD 1978 Philosophy.
2002 Early Career Award Recipients
Ian K. Smith, M.A. 1993, Science Education.
2001 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Edmund W. Gordon, Ed.D. 1957, Child Development and Guidance.
Betty Louise Sullivan, M.E. 1984, Ed.D. 1992, Language, Literature and Social Studies.
Darlene Yee-Melichar, M.S. 1984, Ed.D. 1985, Health Education.
________________________________________________________
2000 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Joseph L. Dionne, Ed.D. 1965, Curriculum and Teaching.
Barbara Loomis Jackson, M.A. 1967, Sociology of Education.
Margaret Mary Fitzpatrick, M.Ed. 1982, Ed.D. 1986, Higher Education.
1999 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Edith B. Everett, M.A. 1950, Student Personnel Administration.
Bonnie Jean Leadbeater, Ph.D. 1986, Developmental Psychology.
Robert A. Lefranc, M.A. 1947, Curriculum and Teaching.
Margaret L. McClure, M.A. 1962, Ed.D. 1972, Nursing Service Administration.
1999 Early Career Award Recipients
Alice A. Wilder, Ed.D. 1998, Educational Psychology.
Angela C. Santomero, M.A. 1995, Developmental Psychology.
_________________________________________________________
1998 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Jerome T. Murphy, M.A. 1962, Mathematics and Science Education.
Bert Konowitz, Ed.D. 1969, Music and Music Education.
Frances O'Connell Rust, Ed.D. 1984, Curriculum and Teaching.
1998 Early Career Award Recipients
Norman Atkins, M.A. 1997, Educational Administration.
Grace E. Shen, Ed.D. 1988, Arts in Education.
_________________________________________________________
1997 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Amelia Augustus, Ed.D. 1970, Comparative and International Education.
Elizabeth Gotbaum, M.A. 1967, Philosophy and the Social Sciences.
Joseph Hankin, Ed.D. 1967, Higher and Adult Education.
Robert Piemonte, Ed.D. 1976, Nursing Education.
_________________________________________________________
1996 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Donaldson T.L.O. Byrd, Ed.D. 1983, Music and Music Education.
Sharon Lynn Kagan, Ed.D. 1979, Curriculum and Teaching.
Homer Kempfer* , Ed.D. 1941, Educational Administration.
_________________________________________________________
1995 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Michael A. Carrera, Ed.D. 1970, Health Education.
Selma Weintraub Greenberg* , Ed.D. 1966, Curriculum and Teaching.
Shirley M. Stinson, Ed.D. 1969, Nursing Education.
Irene Trowell-Harris, Ed.D. 1983, Health Education.
_________________________________________________________1994 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Joanna Chan, Ed.D. 1977, Languages, Literature and Social Studies.
E. Gordon Gee, Ed.D. 1972, Higher and Adult Education.
Yvonne B. Miller, M.A. 1963, Curriculum and Teaching.
Morton Schindel, M.A. 1947, Curriculum and Teaching. _________________________________________________________
1993 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Dorothy J. del Bueno, B.S. 1966, Ed.D. 1976, Nursing Education.
Herbert M. Kliebard, Professional Diploma 1958, Ed.D. 1963, Curriculum and Teaching.
M. Powell Lawton*, Ph.D. 1952, Psychology.
Richard P. Mills, Ed.D. 1977, Education Administration. _________________________________________________________
1992 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Margaret Tayler Anderson* , M.A. 1967, Professional Diploma 1970, Guidance.
Arthur H. Cunningham* , M.A. 1957, Music and Music Education.
Barbara F. Goodman*, M.A. 1954, Early Childhood Education.
John F. Kullberg*, Ed.D. 1976, Higher and Adult Education.
Huan Lee, M.A. 1956, Educational Administration.
Ruth Watson Lubic, B.S. 1959, M.A. 1961, Nursing Education; Ed.D. 1979, Philosophy and the Social Sciences (Anthropology and Education).
June Machover Reinisch, M.A. 1970; Ph.D. 1976, Clinical Psychology.
____________________________________________________
1991 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Gene Raymond Carter, Sr., Ed.D. 1973, Curriculum and Teaching.
Elizabeth Kitson, M.A. 1969, Guidance.
Eleanor C. Lambertsen* , B.S. 1949, M.A. 1950, Ed.D. 1957, Nursing Education.
Orrea Florence Pye* , Ph.D. 1943, Nutrition Education.
Ruth Westheimer, Ed.D. 1970, Home and Family Life.
____________________________________________________
1990 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
William Patrick Foster*, Ed.D. 1955, Music and Music Education.
Erline Perkins McGriff*, Ed.D. 1967, Nursing Education.
Joseph Shenker*, Ed.D. 1969, Higher Education.
Leon Howard Sullivan*, M.A. 1947, Religious Education.
____________________________________________________
1989 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Kenneth D. Benne* , Ph.D. 1944, Philosophy and the Social Sciences.
Louis Forsdale*, M.A. 1947, Audio-Visual Education;
Ed.D. 1951, Teaching of English.
____________________________________________________
1988 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Catherine Brice Bozeman* , B.S., M.A., Professional Diploma 1949,
Curriculum and Teaching.
Albert Ellis*, M.A. 1943, Ph.D. 1947, Clinical Psychology,
Curriculum and Teaching.
Herman A. Estrin* , M.A. 1942, Curriculum and Teaching;
Professional Diploma 1950, and Ed.D. 1954, Guidance.
Walter E. Sindlinger* , M.A. 1939, Teaching of English;
Ed.D. 1956, Higher Education.
____________________________________________________
1987 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Paul G. Bulger*, Ed.D. 1951, Educational Administration.Paul R. Hanna* , M.A. 1925, Ph.D., 1929, Curriculum and Teaching.
Carroll F. Johnson, M.A. 1947, Ed.D. 1950, Educational Administration.
Mildred L. Montag*, M.A. 1938, Ed.D. 1950, Nursing Education.
____________________________________________________
1986 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
E. Alma Flagg, Ed.D. 1955, Guidance.
Thomas H. Kean, M.A. 1963, Social Studies.
____________________________________________________
1985 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Joseph M. Chamberlain, M.A. 1950, Ed.D. 1962, Educational Administration.
Shirley S. Chisholm, M.A. 1951, Professional Diploma 1961, Curriculum and Teaching.
Lois B. Murphy*, Ph.D. 1937, Psychology.
Donald E. Super* , Ph.D. 1940, Psychology.
____________________________________________________
1984 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Louis T. Benezet*, Ph.D. 1929, Educational Administration.
Esther M. Lloyd-Jones* , B.S. 1944, Guidance and
Student Personnel Administration.
____________________________________________________
1983 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Elbert K. Fretwell, Ph.D. 1953, Educational Administration.
Nathaniel Gibbon, Jr.* , M.A. 1939, Business Education.
____________________________________________________
1982 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Ruth L. Farkas* , M.A. 1932, Languages and Literature.
Eda LeShan*, B.S. 1944, Curriculum and Teaching.
David Randolph*, M.A. 1942, Music Education.
____________________________________________________
1981 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Robert Earl Kinsinger, Ed.D. 1958, Guidance.
Esther E. Peterson*, M.A. 1930, Physical Education.
Luns C. Richardson, M.A. 1958, Educational Administration.
____________________________________________________
1980 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Millie C. Almy*, M.A. 1945, Ph.D. 1948, Curriculum and Teaching.
May Edward Chinn, B.S. 1921, Science Education.
Anna Mae McCabe Hays, B.S. 1958, Nursing Education.
____________________________________________________
1979 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Roma Gans*, B.S. 1926, Ph.D. 1940, Curriculum and Teaching.
David Hyatt*, M.A. 1948, Ed.D. 1959, Languages and Literature.
Martha E. Rogers*, M.A. 1949, Nursing Education.
Vivian H. T. Tom, M.A. 1961, Social Studies.
____________________________________________________
1978 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Todd Duncan*, student 1930, Languages, Literature, Speech, and Theater.
Mildred Dunnock*, M.A. 1933, Languages, Literature, Speech, and Theater.
Harold Miller, M.A. 1948, Social Studies.
____________________________________________________
1977 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Thelma Adair, M.A. 1945, Ed.D. 1959, Curriculum and Teaching.
____________________________________________________
1975 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Charles Henry Alston*, M.A. 1931, Art and Art Education.
Alice Manheim Kaplan*, student 1925, Art and Art Education.
Rollo May*, Ph.D. 1949, Psychology.
William H. Schuman*, B.S. 1935, M.A. 1937, Music and Music Education.
