School of Education Sees Strong Growth in Student Scholarships 

Bob and Diana Bangert-Drowns sign the memorandum of understanding establishing the Bangert-Drowns Endowment for Diversity in Teaching & Educational Leadership.

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 9, 2020) — The celebration was virtual but the numbers were real for 82 students in the School of Education (SOE) who received scholarships this year — a record number totaling $90,000, providing support for tuition, attending conferences, professional development and guidance in dissertation research.

Every spring the SOE community gathers to celebrate the success of their students, faculty and staff, as well as to honor donors who have made scholarships available to students. This year’s ceremonies took place virtually on May 15 and comprised four separate live celebrations and a pre-recorded video for each department — Educational Theory & Practice, Educational Policy & Leadership, Educational & Counseling Psychology, and Literacy Teaching & Learning.

The event allowed the SOE community to gather and recognize awardees as well as donors. More than 200 attendees from across the country participated in the ceremonies live, with many more viewing the videos afterward. Along with the many established awards, they witnessed a record number, five, of newly endowed scholarships.

Nancy A. Willie-Schiff  '87, who endowed a 2020 scholarship in the field of Educational Policy & Leadership.

Established this year by Dean Emeritus Robert Bangert-Drowns and his wife Diana Bangert-Drowns, the Bangert-Drowns Endowment for Diversity in Teaching & Educational Leadership supports an African American student pursuing a career in P-12 teaching. The inaugural recipient is Raven Scott, a student in the combined BS/MS program in Human Development and Special Education & Literacy.

“This generous gift extends Dean Bangert-Drowns’ deep commitment, leadership, and legacy in the area of educational equity,” said Interim Dean Jason Lane of the 33-year faculty member who led SOE from 2009-18.

Nancy Willie-Schiff was present to celebrate her new scholarship and its recipient. The Nancy A. Willie-Schiff ’87 Educational Policy & Leadership Scholarship will support the continued studies of L. Rebecca Hann, a doctoral student in Educational Policy & Leadership. Willie-Schiff, who serves on the SOE Dean’s Leadership Council, received her EdD from UAlbany in 1987 and went on to serve as assistant provost for undergraduate education in the SUNY system.

"I endowed a scholarship at UAlbany’s SOE to show my gratitude for the transformational doctoral education I received there, and to support graduate students who are preparing to lead higher education into the future,” she said. “This year’s recipient, L. Rebecca Hann, has the academic preparation, career experience, keen interest in the field and dedication to excellence to become an outstanding leader. I am honored to play a small part in her SOE experience."

A Critical Time for Support

“We are deeply grateful to the growing number of alums and friends investing in scholarships for our students,” said Lane. “More than any other recent year, these scholarships are critical for our students to sustain their educational progress. The growing number of student scholarships is a testament to the important role that the School of Education plays in preparing the next generation of New York’s education and mental health leaders.”

The other scholarships new to 2020 are:

• The John Murray & Ann Marie Murray MA ’75, MS ’98, PhD ’02 Community College Leadership Scholarship supports students in pursuing leadership in community college settings. Recipient: Valerie Swenson, doctoral student in Educational Policy & Leadership. Ann Marie Murray, who retires this year as UAlbany vice provost for Program Development and Strategic Initiatives, was herself the recipient of this year’s Excellence in Part-Time Teaching Award for her outstanding instruction in Educational Policy & Leadership.
• The Class of 1964 Scholarship was created by members of the Class of 1964 as part of their 55th reunion last year to honor their preparation as teachers. The scholarship supports an SOE student pursuing teaching as a career and demonstrates characteristics of leadership and engagement. Recipient: Shirley Machado, a master’s student in Special Education & Literacy.
• The Carole Ann Jemal Gibson ’67 MA Education Scholarship, established by Greg Gibson in memory of his wife, a teacher for 30 years, supports a graduate student pursuing a teaching degree. Recipient: Janelle Young Carey, a master’s student in Special Education & Literacy.

A full listing of all the SOE 2020 scholarships can be found at the SOE scholarship website.

An Additional Way to Honor Students

In addition to announcing the scholarships, SOE also launched the Dean’s Excellence Awards, which honors up to eight undergraduate and graduate students for excellence in leadership and service, social justice and advocacy, research, and teaching and mentoring. Each student received a scholarship as part of his or her recognition.

“We developed these new awards in conjunction with the school’s Student Leadership Council and are very excited about this opportunity to highlight and support the important contributions that so many of our students make to our community,” said Lane.

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