Honors and Awards:

Best Research Paper Award 2008 National Research Symposium of the National Rural Education Association, judged best of all submissions to the NREA National Symposium, San Antonio, TX., October 25-26, 2008.

Panel Member, National Leaders in Rural Education, identifying current and future research needs in rural education, invited by the National Center on Rural Education Support,North Carolina State University, October 24-25, 2007.

"Shaking Things Up" Featured Iowa Alumni, one of 11 University of Iowa College of Education alumni selected as making an outstanding difference in education through activism and community and professional service, featured in Education at Iowa magazine, Spring 2006.

Best Research Paper Award 2006 National Research Symposium of the National Rural Education Association, judged best of all submissions to the NREA National Symposium, November 7-9, 2006, Kansas City, KS.

Faculty Summer Research Award from OU College of Education, selected by COE Awards Committee, competitive research grant, 3 awarded in field of 52 eligible, nominated by departments (included $6,000 research support), 2006.

Outstanding Junior Faculty Member in the OU College of Education, for exceptional accomplishments in the pre-tenure years, in research, teaching and service, 2 awarded in field of 14 eligible, nominated by departments, 2006.

Oak Ridge Associated Universities Ralph E. Powe Outstanding Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, for exceptional demonstration and promise of early career research and scholarship, nominated by OU Provost and Vice President for Research (included $ 10,000 research support), 2004.

University of Oklahoma Outstanding Junior Faculty Research Award, selected by OU Research Council, competitive research grant, 24 awarded in field of 90 applicants nominated by departments (included $6,000 research support), 2004.

Pi Lambda Theta Outstanding Graduate Student Award, for excellence in scholarship, professional leadership, research, scholarly writing, superior scholastic achievement, and promise in evaluation and improvement of the teaching profession, 2000-01;  1 awarded annually in field of  over 900 graduate students, University of Iowa, 2001.

T. Anne Cleary Distinguished Psychological Research Award, for exceptional achievement and promise in the field of psychological research by a University of Iowa graduate student, 2000-01; 2 awarded in field of over 400 eligible students.

Most Outstanding Research Paper in Social Sciences, James F. Jakobsen All-University Research Forum, March 2001; papers blind-judged by faculty experts in Social Sciences research, first place in field of 39 doctoral papers.

Graduate Merit Fellowship, University of Iowa, recognizing exceptional promise in graduate scholarship and research, 1998-99 & 2001-02; 10 awarded in field of over 1000 eligible students, nominated by faculty members and selected by Deans of the Graduate College (funded 1st & last year of study).

Barry Bratton Award for Most Outstanding Graduate Student in ID&T Program, University of Iowa, 1999-2000, 1 awarded annually in field of 75 eligible graduate students.

Hancher-Finkbine Distinguished Leadership in Graduate Education Award, for exemplary scholarship and leadership among graduate students (5 awarded from entire UI graduate student body), University of Iowa, May 2000.

Excellence in Gifted Education Award, for support of gifted students in K-12 education, from Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education, University of Iowa, May 2000.

Hancher-Finkbine Medallion Nominee, one of University of Iowa's most prestigious scholarly awards, nominated: 1 of 2 from UI Graduate Student Senate (field of 200 eligible); sole nominee from ID&T Program by Student Association (field of 75 eligible); sole nominee from UI College of Education (field of over 300 eligible). 

Grants and Funding Awards—Funded

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEARUP) Grant, Co-Principal Investigator, "K20 Pathways to SUCCESS: Sowing University and College Connections Early in Student's Studies." Six-year program to increase preparation of secondary students for entry to, and success in, undergraduate postsecondary programs in the region, funded 2008-2014, (total grant $ $2,795,369.) (Co-PI at 12.5%).

NSF-RET “Teachers in the University Learning Research” Program, Co-Principal Investigator, training and development program for K-12 science and math educators to fund summer study and ongoing implementation support opportunities in partnership with faculty at the University of Oklahoma, three-year program, 2006-9 (total grant $ 399,847; Co-PI at 20%).

Instructional Innovations Grant, University of Oklahoma Program for Instructional Innovations, Principal Investigator, four-year grant to support implementation of ITA online professional development for university teaching assistants, 2007-11 (rec’d $ 9,225. plus support for three graduate assistants).

Online Course Development Initiative Grant, College of Education, Principal Investigator, competitive grant program among College faculty to support development of credit-bearing online courses for COE, for Motivation for Teachers professional development credit course for inservice K-12 teachers, 2007-9 (rec’d salary supplement $ 5,100. plus development subsidy).

Faculty Summer Research Grant, College of Education, Principal Investigator, competitive grant program among College faculty, three awards given among 48 faculty members, summer 2006 (rec’d one month summer salary supplement).

College of Education Faculty Research Grants, Principal Investigator, “Improving Teaching in the Academy, One Teaching Assistant at a Time,” for online pilot course design and development support, 2006-7, (received $ 1,250.).

Experimental Programs to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) seed grant, Principal Investigator, for “Improving Teaching in the Academy, One Teaching Assistant at a Time,” two-year foundational research and development project (received $ 8,371. for first year) 2005-6.

Experimental Programs to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) matching grant, Principal Investigator, for “CAREER: Improving Teaching in the the Academy, One Teaching Assistant at a Time,” five-year program, 2006-2011 (received matching commitment of $ 25,000 over five years for NSF proposal not funded). 

Oklahoma State Regents Special Research Grant, Principal Investigator, for “Effects of Teacher and Student Characteristics on High School Students’ Academic Motivation,” systemic study in Oklahoma high schools, 2003-6 (received $ 6,775.).

University of Oklahoma International Research Investment Grant, Principal Investigator, for “Effects of Teacher and Student Characteristics on High School Students’ Academic Motivation in Taiwan,”  international extension of high school research project to 15 high schools in Taiwan, 2003-4 (received  $ 6,600.).

College of Education Faculty Research Grants, Principal Investigator, for “Effects of Teacher and Student Characteristics on High School Students’ Academic Motivation,” systemic study in Oklahoma high schools, 2003-4 (received $ 1,500.); 2004-5 (received $ 1,000); 2005-6 (received $ 1,800).

College of Education Faculty Scholarly Presentation Awards, for 2003-4 (received $ ¬¬¬¬¬500.); 2004-5 (received $ 1,500.); 2005-6 (received $ 700.); 2006-7 (received $ 600); 2007-8 (received $ 1,500.).

University of Oklahoma Faculty Scholarly Presentation Awards, for 2004-5 (received $ 800.); 2005-6 (received $ 1,500.); 2006-7 (received $1,200.); 2007-8 (received $ 1,200.).

Graduate College Special Scholarly Presentation Award, for “Self-determination in Education:  Theory, Research, Practice, and Future Implications”, invited presenter to International Research Symposium at Lomonosov Moskow State University, March 11-14, 2003 (received $ 1,200.).

University of Oklahoma Special Research Grant, Principal Investigator, for “Project MORE:  Motivating Opportunities in Rural Education,” extension of Iowa rural project into Oklahoma secondary schools, 2003 (received $ 500.).

Instructional Design & Technology Graduate Travel Awards,  for presentation at the ASTD National Conference, June 3-7, 2001;  for presentation at AHRD International Conference, Honolulu, Feb. 27-March 3, 2002.

Iowa Testing Program Scholarly Travel Grants, for presentation at ISPI National Conference, 2000; for presentation at the ASTD National Conference, June 3-7, 2001; for presentation at AERA National Conference, April 1-5, 2002.

GSS Scholarly Presentation Travel Grants, for presentation at AERA National Conference, 2000; for presentation at the ASTD National Conference, June 3-7, 2001; for presentation at AHRD International Conference, Honolulu, Feb. 27-March 3, 2002.

UISG Scholarly Presentation Awards, for presentation at ISPI National Conference, 2000; for presentation at AERA National Conference, 2000; for presentations at the AERA National Conference, April 10-14, 2001;  for presentation at the ASTD National Conference, June 3-7, 2001; for presentation at AHRD International Conference, Honolulu, Feb. 27-March 3, 2002;  for  presentation at AERA National Conference, April 1-5, 2002.

Graduate College Special Scholarly Presentation Awards, for presentation at the AERA National Conference, 2000; for presentations at the AERA National Conference, April 10-14, 2001; for presentation at AERA National Conference, April 1-5, 2002.

UISG Research Grant for Workplace Training, Motivational Orientations of Managers, and Malleability of Management Styles, field research project in corporate settings, on motivation for learning and performance, spring 2000.

UISG Research Grant for K-12 Education, Project MORE: Motivating Opportunities in Rural Education, field research project in motivation to learn and achieve in public schools, fall 1999.

Grants and Funding Awards—Not Funded

NSF-RET “Teachers in the University Learning Research” Program Phase II, Co-Principal Investigator, training and development program for K-12 science and math educators to fund summer study and ongoing implementation support opportunities in partnership with faculty at the University of Oklahoma, three-year program, 2009-12   (total grant $ 493, 178; Co-PI at 20%).

National Science Foundation, Co-Principal Investigator, Program Evaluator, to develop partnerships between K12 schools, community colleges and universities, develop learning collaboratives to implement interactive learning and community engagement, submitted 2008, decision pending.

Office of Postsecondary Education Grant, Program Evaluator, program to train OU faculty on needs of students with disabilities, “Sooner Talent Initiative”, in collaboration with Zarrow Center for Academic Enrichment, OU Disability Resource Center, and OU Program for Instructional Innovation, submitted 2008, not funded.

Office of Postsecondary Education Grant, Program Evaluator, program for research and development of innovative web-based technology to support science, technology, engineering and math standards, and link to authentic, relevant learning experiences, “K-20 Innovative Learning Environments”, in partnership with OU K-20 Center, submitted 2007-8, not funded.

Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) Grant, Principal Investigator, program for developing online professional development for university teaching assistants, “Improving Teaching in the Academy:  Interdisciplinary TA Online Professional Development”, submitted in 2008, not funded.

Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program (IGERT) Grant, External Evaluator, program for educating scientists and engineers, “IGERT:  Biotic and Human Dimensions of Land Use and Climate Change”, in partnership with team of faculty from across the university, submitted but not funded 2007; revised & resubmitted 2008 not funded. 

Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program (IGERT) Grant, Co-Principal Investigator, program for educating scientists and engineers, “IGERT:  Biocorrosion and Environmental Problem Solution”, in partnership with team of faculty from across the university, submitted 2008, not funded. 

National Science Foundation CAREER Grant, Principal Investigator, for integrative research program, “Career:  Improving Teaching in the Academy, One Teaching Assistant at a Time”, five-year program, 2006-2011, proposal 2003 scored well but not funded; revised & resubmitted 2005 (not funded).

National Science Foundation Research on Learning and Education (ROLE) Grant, Principal Investigator, for “Project MOST:  Motivating Opportunities in Science and Technology Education”, three-year program, scored well in 2003-4 and encouraged to resubmit; resubmitted 2004-5 and scored higher.

Joint Program Development Grant, OU College of Liberal Studies, Sam Noble Museum of Natural History and the OU Library, Consultant, to develop, offer, and evaluate an instructor-mediated online course to train library and museum students and personnel to plan and evaluate outcomes-based projects (not funded), 2004-5.

International Society for Performance Improvement Special Research Award, Principal Investigator, for Instructional Design as a Professional Development Framework for Teaching Expertise”, one-year ongoing research project, scored well in 2004 but not funded.

William T. Grant Scholars Award Program, for “Systemic Improvement in Adolescents’ Rural School Experiences”, five-year program (not funded), 2005.

Research Council Special Research Grant, Principal Investigator, for “Effects of Instructional Design Professional Development Knowledge on University Teaching Assistants”, study of TA teaching knowledge and practice at OU, submitted 2003 (not funded); resubmitted 2004 (not funded).

Taiwan Ministry of Education Special Research Grant in Education, Co-Principal Investigator, for international research project, “Effects of High School Teacher and Student Perceptions and Interactions on Motivation, Retention, and Achievement in Taiwan”, three-year program, 2004-7, excellent reviews but not funded 2004.

Mid-Continental Research in Education Laboratory (McREL) Design Grant, for “Motivation to Thrive:  Keeping High Quality Teachers in Rural Schools”, received positive reviews but not funded 2004.

International Society for Performance Improvement Special Research Award, Principal Investigator, for Instructional Design as a Cognitive Organizational Model for Teaching Expertise”, scored high in 2003, encouraged to resubmit.

Field-Initiated Studies Grant, sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Co-Investigator, for “Does Self-determination Instruction Improve Academic and Transitional Outcomes?  A Five-Year, Multi-State Study”, in collaboration with the Zarrow Center for Special Education, 2003, scored well but not funded in 2003.

Oklahoma BlueSTEM – Computer Integrated Technology Services (CITyS) Co-Principal Investigator, collaborative faculty initiative to promote science, technology, and math education in Oklahoma K-12 schools through teacher education and communication networks, 2002 (scored well but not funded).

National Rising Scholars Award in Higher Education for the Public Good, Principal Investigator, sponsored by the Kellogg Foundation, for “Project MORE:  Motivating Opportunities in Rural Education”, competitive national grant, scored high in 2003, but not funded.