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Sooner Scholar
Mr. Juan Portley enters The University of Oklahoma’s Special Education doctoral program as a Sooner Scholar after working for three years as the Transition Coordinator for the Eastern Navajo Agency, in New Mexico. There, Mr. Portley consulted with 14 Navajo schools and trained school staff on federal and state special education mandates and transition program best practices. He also assisted in the development of policy and procedures for rural schools. In 2001, Mr. Portley earned his M.Ed in Special Education from Pennsylvania State University, and worked for two years as a resource teacher, special education coordinator, and as a basketball and cross-country track coach. In 1998, Mr. Portley received his B.S. in psychology from the University of Oregon where he worked as a research assistant in the cognitive psychology lab and studied childhood temperament. He also served as a counselor for the university’s counseling center’s crisis line.
Mr. Portley’s research interests include transition services and program development for rural Native American communities. He will study issues surrounding post-secondary success for Native American students and examine dropout prevention components to improve academic achievement.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to pursue a doctorate at OU and to work with staff at the College of Education’s Zarrow Center for Learning Enrichment.”
juanportley@ou.edu |
