We welcomed new Head of School for Education, Professor Tisha Morrell earlier this month. Professor Morrell's prior post was at the University of Portland (UP) in the US, where she was Professor in the School of Education and Director of the Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Education and Outreach Center.
Professor Morrell was responsible for establishing the STEM Centre across the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and Engineering and the Centre now has over 30 academics in physics, chemistry, biology, environmental science, computer science, engineering, business, theology, maths and education.
She was formerly Acting Graduate Program Director and Director of Off-campus Programs at Portland, with responsibility for MEd programs in international locations, including Guam and Canada, and has substantial experience with professional accreditation issues–currently chairing a committee charged with revising national Preservice Science Teacher Preparations Standards.
Professor Morrell recently served as Chair of the UP Senate Committee for Rank and Tenure and in 2017 she received the Deans’ Award for Faculty Leadership.
With a background in biology, Professor Morrell received her PhD from Oregon State University in Science Education and her research focuses on best practices for science teacher preparation, with an emphasis on professional development.
She has published widely on developing research-teacher partnerships, pre-service teacher preparation and developing STEM pedagogies and is also the recipient of several awards and distinctions for science education.
In 2007 she received the National Science Teachers Association Informal Science Teacher Education Award and in 2016 she was appointed to the Oregon State Department of Education Science Advisory Panel.
Professor Morrell was also recently elected President of the Association of Science Teacher Educators (ASTE) which has over 800 members from countries around the globe. Its mission is to promote excellence in science teacher education world-wide through scholarship and innovation.
As the new Head of School for Education, Professor Morrell will be responsible for the strategic direction, academic and administrative leadership and governance of the School, to achieve the University's strategic mission and goals.