New P-16 Advisory Council Named
Provost Sheldon Ekland-Olson has appointed members to a newly formed P-16 Advisory Council. The group will advise on the university’s impact on public education—one of six strategic themes set for UT Austin by President Larry Faulkner upon taking office in 1998.
The focus of the P-16 Advisory Council is to
- provide guidance on P-16 program development
- advise on the coordination of the many existing P-16 programs on campus
- develop a plan to enhance the university’s P-16 impact statewide
- make recommendations for strategic planning for P-16.
Judy Ashcroft, Associate Vice President and Director of the Division of Instructional Innovation and Assessment, will serve as chair and introduced the distinguished panel by noting, “Each of the individuals invited to be a member of this council is not only accomplished in P-16 but also active in providing the finest education for Texas students. From research to policy to preparation of teachers, this is a knowledgeable council that will both provide challenges and help drive achievement.”
The P-16 Advisory Council includes 12 members:
- Felipe Alanis, Associate Dean, Continuing Education
- Diane Bryant, Associate Dean, College of Education
- Kimberly Christian, Senior Program Manager, UTOPIA K-12
- Linda Ferreira-Buckley, Director, Division of Rhetoric and Writing, College of Liberal Arts
- Gail Giebink, Director, Office of the Vice President for Development
- Gwen Grigsby, Associate Vice President for Institutional Relations and Legal Affairs
- Michael Hudson, Executive Director, National Center for Educational Accountability
- Michael Marder, Director of Special Projects, College of Natural Sciences
- Wanda Nelson, Assistant Vice President, University Outreach Centers
- Darryl Phillips, Program Coordinator, University Charter School, Continuing Education
- Ed Sharpe, Clinical Professor, Department of Educational Administration, College of Education
- Gloria White, Director, Charles A. Dana Center for Science and Mathematics
These council members are responsible for many of the programs that support President Faulkner’s strategic theme, UT Austin’s Contribution to Improved Public Education, and are nationally recognized for their efforts in P-16 education. The group will meet each semester to assess and report on the impact of these programs.