ALUMNI PROFILE
Former students of professor Patricia McNally
Ellis, Esq. gathered on April 5 to celebrate her
recent retirement and to express their gratitude for
her dedication and impact. The day of the event,
Professor Ellis learned that through the generous
donations of family, friends, and alumni, the
Duncan-McNally Accounting Scholarship fund, which
she co-founded in 2005 in memory of her father, is
now fully endowed.
We are grateful:
New Stevenson
Partners
Stevenson University is pleased to welcome three new members to Stevenson
Partners, our initiative recognizing companies who offer scholarships to our students. Our newest Stevenson Partners are:
Legg Mason
LifeBridge Health
Noovis
Alumni Contribute to
Education Textbook
Pictured: First row (left to right) Megan Polis ’16; Brittany Somers ’16; Judy Hemler ’16; Tina Mikula ’11;
David W. Nicholson, Professor of Education; Rebecca Knolleisen ’14; Zac Stavish ’13; Donald Bufano;
Deborah Kraft, Dean of the School of Education. Second row (left to right): Bob Pelton, Professor of
Education; Gina Weber ’16; Brooke Pazoles, Kellsye Piper ’12; Alix Weyforth ’13; Emma Oberlechner
’11; Victoria Abrecht ’16; Stephanie Miele ’16; Beth Kobett, Assistant Professor of Education
On May 10, the School of Education recognized David W. Nicholson, Professor of Education, with a signing party celebrating the publication of his Philosophy
of Education in Action: An Inquiry-Based Approach. The textbook examines different
philosophies of education, and each chapter features a vignette based on observations in actual classrooms by alumni and current education student-candidates in
cooperation with several local schools.
For Nicholson, one of the most gratifying aspects of researching and writing the
textbook was working with former and current students. In particular, Nicholson
says that conversations with Kellsye Piper ’12 and Zac Stavish ’13 helped inspire
the idea to author his own textbook. As the project began to take shape, Alix
Weyforth ’13 and Allie Withrow ’13 offered feedback, and Rebecca Knolleisen
’14 provided extensive editing suggestions. Later in the process, Molly Malloy ’15
assisted in researching and verifying sources.
Other alumni were instrumental in contributing to the book’s development,
Nicholson says. He and his students observed in the classroom of Tina Mikula
’11, teacher at Monarch Academy Charter School in Glen Burnie, who also shared
We are also excited to report that several
Stevenson Partners have renewed their
membership in the program and will offer
their scholarships again for the upcoming
academic year. Renewing members are:
• BGE
• Brotman Financial Group, Inc.
• Capitol Office Solutions
• CohnReznick LLP
• Correct RX Pharmacy Services
• Gross, Mendelsohn & Associates, P.A.
• Medifast, Inc.
• Merritt Properties LLC
• Mount Royal Printing & Communications
• RCM & D
• The Law Office of Jane Frankel Sims
• Weyrich, Cronin & Sorra, Chartered
instructional materials. Emma Oberlechner ’11, teacher at East Middle School in
Carroll County Public Schools, provided a lesson plan. This information became the
basis for vignettes featured in two chapters.
Current seniors also became involved. Megan Polis and Milvelis Vargas assisted
in researching sources, verifying references, and compiling the index. In addition,
Judy Hemler and Megan Polis along with a team of four students (Victoria
Abrecht, Stephanie Miele, Brittany Somers, and Gina Weber) followed the
inquiry model described in the textbook to conduct observations. They presented
their results at the Paul D. Lack Scholars’ Showcase held at Stevenson University and
the John Dewey Society’s Centennial conference in Washington, D.C.
During the signing party, Paul D. Lack, Ph.D., Executive Vice President for
Academic Affairs, commended the project as an example of experiential learning,
collaboration among faculty, students, and alumni, and outreach with educators in
the local community.
WATCH a Faculty Focus interview with
Nicholson at stevenson.edu/ventures.
STEVENSON.EDU/GIVING
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