DeVitis honored by alma mater

    If the fact that 92 percent of faculty hold doctoral degrees is any indication of the rigor and quality of the John H. Lounsbury School of Education, it is no surprise that an already well-decorated professor, Dr. Joseph DeVitis, would receive the 2007 Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  
    DeVitis graciously accepts his recognition remarking that it brings “validation… receiving the award was major corroboration that one’s professional achievements were of substantial worth to students, faculty and alumni in the world of education.” Adding that his alma mater has one of the most highly-ranked colleges of education, the revolutionary nature of the early 1970s, when DeVitis received his doctorate in social foundations in education/educational policy studies was special because of the “significant social change. I sought to be part of that change – in my teaching scholarship and service.”    
    It is this commitment to service and reform that earned Devitis the respect of many students and faculty alike, as his nomination was reviewed by a committee of peers and students as they searched for candidates with scholarship, professional and community contributions, and of course, good teaching.
    Also the author of nine books, DeVitis stays busy with his research to dictate “the role of the ‘public intellectual.’…a scholar/teacher who is willing and able to communicate with both academic communities and wider public audiences.”
     Rather than being a tedious lecturer, great teaching involves sharing one’s passion with students in hopes of catching their interest or allowing them to find their own. Sharing his belief that students need to “reflect critically on those wider social, economic, and political forces that shape and circumscribe what schools can and cannot do” and actively work as “architects of change,” DeVitis’ emphasis on social change is all the more admirable because he himself leads by example. In addition to various past leadership positions, he currently volunteers for St. Stephen’s Food Pantry and is a member of the Progressive Democrats of Central Georgia.
    While DeVitis has such an impressive background, comments from the GCSU community illustrate the extent of his concern for education and make all the more evident how effective of an educator he is.
    Dr. Marianne Edwards, a fellow professor in the Foundations and Secondary Education, comments that DeVitis is “low key” about his endeavors, but still manages to inspire his students.
    “My advisees tell me how much they enjoyed the stimulating atmosphere in Dr. Devitis’ class and how he worked to bring as much ‘real life’ perspective and experience into the class as much as possible,” Edwards said. I see how consistent this is with the very things he was being honored for and as I extend my hardiest congratulations, I know they chose wisely.”
    Freshmen Courtney Patterson, an early childhood education major, took his education in today’s schools course Fall semester.
    “He told great personal stories about his experiences that applied to the concepts we were learning in class,” Patterson said.
    One of DeVitis’ current students, Edel Cuenca, a junior with an undeclared major, agrees and admits that hearing how enriching the class is from Patterson made her eager to take the course.
    “I’m really glad I listened to my roommate’s recommendation to take this class. So far, it’s been a rewarding experience and I can’t wait to finish out the semester,” Cuenca said.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 2 2007. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry