Mobile,AL--The College of Education at the University of South Alabama will celebrate 40 years of teaching, research and service, during its Founders Day with a series of lectures and events from Jan. 28-Feb. 5.

In 1967, the USA Board of Trustees unanimously voted and formally announced the establishment of the College of Education. Dr. J. Howe Hadley served as the first dean followed by Dean George E. Uhlig and Dr. Richard L. Hayes, who currently serves as the dean of the College of Education.

“Founders Day provides the occasion to celebrate the wisdom in establishing the College of Education,” said Hayes. “This event also allows us the time to celebrate the legacy of service through the preparation of educators, and the vision that one day all of Mobile’s citizens will have access to an education of the highest quality.”

Faculty, staff, students and local educators are invited to attend three one-woman performances on Monday, Feb. 5, featuring Brooke Haycock, an artist-in-residence. She will perform “Buzz: Success and the Relentless Pursuit of It,” from 11 a.m.-11:50 a.m.; “Six Degrees of Preparation,” from 12:30 p.m.-1:20 p.m.; and “Dilated Pupils and the Not-so-Soft Bigotry of a Nation,” from 2 p.m.-2:50 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.   

“Founders Day is an opportunity to celebrate the history of the College of Education and its contributions to the University,” said Dr. Phillip Feldman, associate dean. “We will have an opportunity to recognize our distinguished alumni, faculty and students.”

The College of Education, one of nine colleges and schools of the University of South Alabama has maintained its status as the second largest college with about 2,400 graduate and undergraduate students.

The college has awarded more than 12,500 degrees, with 85 percent of the professionals employed by the Mobile and Baldwin county public schools, holding at least one degree or certificate from the University.

For more information call Dr. Philip Feldman at 380-2738.

USA College of Education 40th Anniversary Schedule of Events

Thursday, February 1, 2007
Founders Day Distinguished Lecture will feature Kati Haycock, executive director of the Education Trust will speak at 10 a.m. at the John W. Laidlaw Center for Performing Arts on “Improving Success in High School and College: Where are We? What Can We Do?”

The Invited Faculty Lecture, “Why I Teach,” begins at 1 p.m. in the USA College Education, Room 3212, in the University Commons. The featured speakers are Milken Award winner Lyn McCann, of Turner Elementary School, and Drs. Edward Shaw, professor, and Paige Baggett, assistant professor, department of leadership and teacher education.

The Invited Faculty Lecture, “Why I Teach,” continues at 2 p.m. at the USA College of Education, Room 3212 in the University Commons. The featured speakers are Drs. Mary Ann Robinson, associate professor in the department of professional studies, and Andrea M. Kent, assistant professor and director of field services, department of leadership and teacher education.

The Invited Faculty Lecture, “Why I Teach,” continues at 3 p.m. at the USA College of Education, Room 3212 with Milken Award Winner Michael Fletcher, of Davidson High School, and Dr. Brenda Litchfield, professor, department of professional studies.

Founders Day Distinguished Lecture will feature Dr. Martin Haberman, distinguished professor from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, at 4 p.m. in the College of Education, Room 3212, University Commons.

Monday, February 5, 2007
The Founders Day Distinguished Lecture will feature Benjamin Mays Professor Dr. Johnnie McFadden, of the University of South Carolina. He will speak at 4 p.m. in the USA College of Education, Room 3212, University Commons.