Dr. Eric Moyen and Dr. Jo Ann Higginbotham at the Symposium.
Lee University’s Drs. Jo Ann Higginbotham and Eric Moyen presented at the Christians on Diversity in the Academy Symposium organized by Azusa Pacific University in Arcadia, Calif.
The CDA conference is an interdisciplinary forum where scholars and practitioners can dialogue and learn about diversity in higher education and how Christians respond to the issues. This year's conference theme was "Thinking Critically about Christian Higher Education.”
Drs. Higginbotham and Moyen discussed their three-year research project (2009-2012), concerning pre-service teachers who complete their second student teaching placement in Ghana or Thailand.
“A valuable result of presenting our research was connecting with and getting feedback from other professors associated with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities,” Dr. Higginbotham said. “The results will be very helpful as we complete our research.”
The study investigated the differences in the pre-service teachers' attitudes and perceptions before and after their overseas experience. The results of this study will be used to support or clarify other work accomplished in this area and offer suggestions for future research. Findings will also be used to help education programs improve overseas student teaching programs as well as better prepare students to teach in diverse settings, officials said.
Dr. Higginbotham, professor of education, joined Lee’s faculty in 1981. She directs the Thailand Summer Study Program and supervises the student teaching program to Bangkok, Thailand. Dr. Higginbotham earned her doctorate and master’s degree at Middle Tennessee State University and her bachelor’s at Tennessee Technological University.
Dr. Moyen joined Lee’s faculty in 2004 where he currently serves as an associate professor of education and the director of first year programs. Dr. Moyen received his doctorate from the University of Kentucky, his master’s from the University of Alabama and his bachelor’s from Taylor University.
Others involved in the study are Lee Associate Professor of Education Dr. Patricia McClung and Dr. Julie Mitchell, social studies teacher at Lake Forest Middle School.
For more information contact the Helen DeVos College of Education at 614-8175.
Dr. Eric Moyen and Dr. Jo Ann Higginbotham at the Symposium.