Congratulations to Dr. Ty McNamee (EdD. ’22)!  He is the winner of the 2023-2024 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division J Dissertation of the Year Award. His dissertation is titled The Cultural Transition Into and Navigation of Higher Education for Rural Students from Poor and Working-class Backgrounds.

The Award Committee Chair stated:

“Dr. McNamee’s dissertation work stood out from the other nominations by the quality and depth of his writing, as well as the originality and unique contribution to the field of higher education.”

“Very few studies have critically evaluated rural students transition from poor and working-class backgrounds into college,” added Dr. Chan, who directs the master’s degree in higher education administration program at Lee. “Dr. McNamee’s qualitative work inspires us as teacher-scholars and practitioners to implement policies, procedures and practices that promote equality, diversity, and inclusion for minoritized and marginalized groups in postsecondary education.”

Ty is currently an Assistant Professor of Higher Education at the University of Mississippi.