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Pan Receives Morningstar Award

Lecturer Barbara Alexander Pan embodies what all HGSE faculty should be: "thoughtful and intelligent researcher and teacher, and a concerned member of the community who never hesitates to offer practical assistance and advice," said one student. Other students noted Pan's role as an "excellent mentor," who was always willing to listen and help, as well as her "incredibly supportive and encouraging" nature.

At the HGSE Convocation on Wednesday, June 4, Pan was honored for her work by receiving the Morningstar Family Teaching Award, given annually to a faculty member for his or her generosity in providing time and support to students. "Teaching is truly a co-construction activity, so this award is as much a reflection on my students as it is on myself," Pan said. "I've been honored to work with terrific students here at HGSE and am thrilled to share this award with them."

The award includes a $5,000 prize and recognition on a plaque in the Gutman Library lobby. Pan was nominated along with 39 other faculty members, with 95 students making nominations.

The Morningstar Award recipient was chosen using a three stage process. During the first two weeks of May 2008, HGSE master's and doctoral students submitted nominations for faculty members via an online poll. After reviewing all nominated faculty members, a student advisory committee for master's and doctoral students provided additional feedback on the nominees. Based on student testimonials and input from the student advisory committees, representatives from the Dean's Office then selected the honoree.

Pan was trained as a developmental psychologist. Her major research interests are in first- and second-language, and literacy acquisition in the broader context of children's social and cognitive development. She investigates how young children come to understand and express intents and achieve goals through language and literacy. Pan is interested in factors such as vocabulary that are related to children's preparation for the language and literacy demands of school.

Past recipients of the Morningstar Award include Senior Lecturer Kay Merseth (2001), Aronson Associate Professor Wendy Luttrell (2002), Associate Professor Bridget Terry Long (2003), Shattuck Professor Catherine Snow (2004), former professor Eleanor Drago-Severson (2005), Professor John Willett (2006), and Professor Richard Murnane (2007).

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