Spectrum - Volume 18 Issue 36 July 25, 1996 - CHRE appoints administrators

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CHRE appoints administrators

By Sandy Broughton

Spectrum Volume 18 Issue 36 - July 25, 1996

Mary Ann Lewis has been appointed interim associate dean for the College of Human Resources and Education, according to CHRE Dean Janet Johnson In that role, she will oversee undergraduate academic affairs for all undergraduate students in the newly merged college, and professional studies for teacher education.

Lewis has extensive experience with, understanding of, and commitment to academic affairs and teacher education. She joined the faculty of the College of Education at Virginia Tech in 1976 as assistant professor and assistant to the director of teacher education. In 1977 she was appointed coordinator of student teaching, making arrangements for student-teaching assignments for more than 400 students in more than 30 school divisions each year. Since 1981, Lewis has been assistant dean for professional studies for the College of Education, a role which encompasses both teacher education and academic affairs.

Lewis has conducted research and presented reports on such topics as teaching certification standards, a comparison of graduates in restructured and non-restructured teacher education programs, evaluation of student teachers, and teaching without training.

Burton to Lead Teaching

and Learning

John Burton, a faculty member in the College of Human Resources and Education, has been selected interim director of the Department of Teaching and Learning, to replace Jerry Niles during his appointment as interim associate dean of education programs in the merged College of Human Resources and Education.

A member of the Virginia Tech College of Education faculty since 1977, Burton teaches graduate courses in learning theory and advanced computer applications, conducts research, and advises graduate students. He was program area leader for the Instructional Systems Development Program from 1987 to 1990, and served as director of instruction for Virginia Tech's Computer Camp.

Burton is one of the Virginia Tech faculty members involved in a National Science Foundation (NSF) project to create a "virtual-school" computer network in six local schools. The endeavor is a joint project of Virginia Tech's computer science department, College of Education, the Montgomery County Schools, and the Blacksburg Electronic Village. The $1.1-million grant will enable the interdisciplinary group to develop collaborative, project-oriented science projects using the "virtual-school" network.

The Department of Teaching and Learning consists of programs in elementary education; secondary education; history, philosophy, and social foundations; instructional systems development; career and occupational studies; business education; marketing education; family and consumer sciences; health and physical education; and technology education. It also houses the Education Technology Laboratory, which includes a model high-technology classroom, video production capabilities, Internet access, and individual computer workstations. The Department of Teaching and Learning has 45 faculty members, 250 undergraduate students, 475 master's degree students, 120 doctoral students, and 120 non-degree professional-certification students.

Lovingood to Chair Department of

Housing, Interior Design, and Resource Management

Rebecca Powell Lovingood has been named chair of the Department of Housing, Interior Design, and Resource Management in the College of Human Resources and Education. Lovingood assumed her new duties July 1, the same day Human Resources and Education merged to create the new college. "I see this as an opportunity to be a part of the leadership team that will shape the new college," Lovingood said. "With the encouragement and support of the university administration, we have many opportunities ahead of us."

In addition to a bachelor's degree in home economics education and a master's degree in household equipment, Lovingood earned her doctorate in home management from Ohio State University, where she taught, conducted research, and produced a daily extension radio program.

Lovingood joined the Virginia Tech faculty in 1973, and has taught courses in household equipment, research methods, and theory development. She has presented her research on appliance performance and energy consumption, kitchen design, and family time use to local, national, and international audiences. Her work has been published in journals and conference proceedings in the United States and Europe.

Lovingood has been a consultant to Parents' Magazine , the Department of Energy, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, and U.S. and European appliance or appliance-component manufacturers. From 1990-92 she was chair of the Major Appliance Consumer Action Panel (MACAP), an independent panel of experts sponsored by the U.S. major appliance industry to mediate complaints of consumers not satisfied with the response of manufacturers to warranty complaints.

Active nationally in professional organizations and honor societies in the field of family and consumer sciences, Lovingood is currently vice president in charge of development for the 16,000-member American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (formerly known as the American Home Economics Association), and is associate editor or manuscript reviewer for several journals. Recognition of Lovingood's contributions to the field include an award from the Association of Home Equipment Educators, the distinguished alumni award from Ohio State University College of Human Ecology, and the International Appliance Technical Conference Award for Excellence. In 1993 she was named an American Home Economics Association Leader in recognition of her leadership and service to the profession.

The Department of Housing, Interior Design, and Resource Management (HIDM) comprises six disciplines: housing, household equipment, interior design, family resource management, family economics, and consumer affairs. It is also the academic home for students in secondary teaching and Extension. The programs in HIDM are designed to provide a research base for educational programs in Extension, schools, business, and government. Additionally, Virginia Tech is the only university in the country with active graduate, undergraduate, and research programs in household equipment. There are 18 faculty members in the HIDM department, about 300 undergraduate students, and 25 graduate students.