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Ford wins SEC Faculty Achievement Award

Donna Ford (Vanderbilt University)

Donna Ford, professor of special education at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of education and human development, is one of 14 university professors being recognized by the Southeastern Conference for achievement in research and scholarship.

The SEC announced April 10 the winners of its 2013 Faculty Achievement Awards. These annual awards honor professors from the SEC’s 14 member universities who have meritorious records in teaching and scholarship and who serve as role models for other faculty and students.

“The SEC Faculty Achievement Awards provide an opportunity for each SEC university to showcase the strengths of its faculty, who excel in many disciplines with varying areas of expertise,” said SEC and Auburn University President Jay Gogue. “In the SEC, we are fortunate to have professors who understand the value of classroom instruction, research guidance and scholarly contributions to the overall success of student education.”

Ford conducts research primarily in gifted education and multicultural/urban education. She consults regularly with school districts and educational and legal organizations in the areas of gifted education, advanced placement and multicultural/urban education. She is the author or co-author of several books, more than 120 articles and book chapters and has made more than 600 presentations at professional conferences and in school districts. Ford is the recipient of the Early Career Award and the Career Award from the American Educational Research Association, among other honors.

The SEC Faculty Achievement Award winners were chosen by a selection committee of SEC provosts. Each will receive a $5,000 honorarium from the conference and become his or her university’s nominee for the SEC Professor of the Year Award. The SEC Professor of the Year receives an additional $15,000 honorarium and will be presented at the annual SEC Awards Dinner in Destin, Fla.

The SEC Faculty Achievement Awards and the SEC Professor of the Year Award are among a set of non-athletic activities the SEC has undertaken through its SECU academic initiative to encourage academic leadership and collaboration within the SEC membership.

“I want to congratulate the 14 professors who have been selected to receive this honor,” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said. “They have transformed their classrooms and enriched the learning experience for SEC students. We are truly proud of their accomplishments.”

See the full list of winners on the SEC website.

Contact: Sean Cartell, (205) 458-3000
scartell@sec.org