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Date 6-29-06
Contact Jennifer Rigney 601.266.5486
WITH PHOTO
Hattiesburg—Mary Beth Walker, assistant director
of student activities at the University of Southern Mississippi,
is one of five higher education professionals nationwide who recently
received a fellowship to attend the Summer Institute on First-Year
Assessment, June 25-27, in Asheville, N.C.
Walker is the only recipient from Mississippi along with four others
from Florida, Georgia, Illinois and Michigan. Awarded by the National
Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition
and the Association for Institutional Research, the fellowship program
was open to all higher education professionals involved with first-year
program assessment.
“I am thrilled to be recognized by these prestigious organizations,”
said Walker. “Last year, I was named assistant coordinator of assessment
in addition to my regular position. The knowledge I will gain at
the institute will help me in these efforts, as well as help me
complete my dissertation, which deals with the assessment of first-year
programs at Southern Miss.”
Walker has served as assistant director of student activities since
July 2004. She also serves as the 2006 South Regional Conference
chair for the National Association of Campus Activities and will
complete her Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration
at Southern Miss in December 2006.
Now in its sixth year, the Summer Institute on First-Year Assessment
provides a comprehensive introduction into the theory and practice
of first-year assessment by offering sessions and workshops that
highlight specific skills and processes vital to quality assessment,
while maximizing opportunities for participant learning and networking.
In addition, the institute closes with a session explicitly designed
to help participants turn ideas into actions by creating a campus-specific
plan for the implementation or improvement of their university’s
first-year assessment.
Click to enlarge
Mary Beth Walker
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