Purdue News
Purdue News
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April 16, 2004 School of Education honors eight distinguished alumniWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University's School of Education will honor eight of its graduates as distinguished alumni at a ceremony today (Friday, 4/16). Janine M. Bernard, William E. Christopher, M. Kay Clark, Edwin C. Leonard Jr., Gregg O. Lehman, Lawrence G. Shoaf, Kenneth L. Gleason and Jodi L. Allen will honored for professional achievement and their contributions to the field of education during a 6 p.m. ceremony at Purdue's Black Cultural Center. • Janine M. Bernard, a professor and chair of counseling and human services at Syracuse University, earned a doctoral degree from Purdue in counseling education and supervision in 1975. She has worked extensively in the areas of counselor education, social work and psychology, and her discrimination model is typically the first taught in counseling supervision classes. Bernard will receive the School of Education Award of Distinction for outstanding scholarship, leadership and service in the field of counselor education. • William E. Christopher received his master's and doctoral degrees from Purdue in educational administration in 1964 and 1972, respectively. He has worked as a teacher and principal and, at the age of 28, was superintendent of Tri-County School Corp., in Wolcott, Ind. He has worked extensively with the Indiana Department of Education and currently is the executive director of the Indiana State Teachers' Retirement Fund. He will receive the School of Education Career Achievement Award for pioneering contributions, continued commitment and dedication to public education. • M. Kay Clark, who earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1969, is the retired owner and director of Wood Acres County Day School in Marietta, Ga. Under her 33 years of leadership, and eventual ownership, the school grew from 17 kindergarten students in two rooms to more than 700 students in nine buildings on a 10-acre campus for prekindergarten through fifth-grade students, and the school's cost stayed at approximately half that of other private schools in the area. Clark will receive the School of Education Community Achievement Award for commitment and dedication to providing children in her community with an exceptional educational experience in a nurturing environment. • Edwin C. Leonard Jr. earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics and a master's degree and doctorate in educational administration in 1962, 1966 and 1971, respectively. For the past 37 years, he has served as a teacher, researcher and adviser at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and started the IPFW basketball program, which is now an NCAA Division I program. He will receive a School of Education Community Achievement Award for outstanding dedication to higher education and to his community as a teacher, researcher, coach and adviser. • Gregg O. Lehman, who received his master's and doctoral degrees from Purdue in educational administration in 1971 and 1973, respectively, serves as the president and CEO of Gordian Health Solutions Inc. in Franklin, Tenn. A past president of Taylor University, he has served as president and CEO of four health care organizations during the past 18 years. Lehman will receive the School of Education Friend of Education Award for outstanding leadership and innovative contributions in the fields of higher education and health care. • Lawrence G. Shoaf earned his master's and doctoral degrees in educational administration from Purdue in 1972 and 1974, respectively. For 12 years as chief financial officer for major school corporations in Illinois and California, he implemented reforms in finance and cost-effectiveness measures. Now in Newport Beach, Calif., Shoaf serves as senior vice president of Marsh Risk and Insurance Services. He will receive a School of Education Friend of Education Award for outstanding leadership and significant reforms in public education management and the insurance industry. • Kenneth L. Gleason, a 33-year veteran teacher, received a bachelor's degree in social studies education from Purdue in 1970 and a specialist degree in instructional development in 1991. For 20 years, he taught social studies and coached numerous sports at Franklin Township Middle School in Indianapolis. After moving to Kissimmee, Fla., he became chair of the social studies department at Poinciana High School. He will be awarded the School of Education Mentor Award for spirit, energy and dedication in helping students and fellow teachers strive for excellence. • Jodi L. Allen is a 2000 graduate of the School of Education and works as a fifth-grade teacher at Glen Acres Elementary School in Lafayette. In four years of teaching, she has been awarded numerous grants, and she participated in the Indiana Higher Education Standards-based Integrated Science Instruction program at Purdue. She now also serves as the youngest master teacher for the program. Allen will receive the School of Education Young Educator Award for exemplary classroom teaching and outstanding leadership in professional development. Writer: Matt Holsapple, (765) 494-2073, mholsapple@purdue.edu Source: Jill Lesh, School of Education director of alumni relations, (765) 494-0568, jlesh@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu Note to Journalists: Additional biographical information and photos of recipients are available at the School of Education Alumni web page.
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