Reading and Language Arts Department

DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

2004 - 2005

The Department of Reading and Language Arts houses two professional literacy journals—The Dragon Lode: The Journal of the International Reading Association Special Interest Group in Reading and Children’s Literature published bi-annually for the International Reading Association (IRA) with Dr. Helen R. Abadiano and Dr. Catherine Kurkjian as editor and associate editor, respectively; and The New England Reading Association Journal published by the New England Reading Association (NERA) with Dr. Catherine Kurkjian as editor. It also houses The Connecticut Association of Reading Research (CARR) newsletter under the editorship of Dr. Jesse Turner. The department website publishes The Literacy Looking Glass: An online journal by graduate students†in Reading and Language Arts†at Central Connecticut State University with Jenny Scialdone, graduate assistant, as editor.

Among faculty honors and/or awards include: Dr. Helen R. Abadiano, inducted to the Lifetime Ambassador of Literacy by the Literacy Volunteers of Central Connecticut, Inc.; Keynote Speaker at the 2004 Joint Board of Teacher Education Annual Professional Development Conference, Kingston, Jamaica; and recipient of the 2004-2005 University Research Grant. Dr. Elene Demos and Dr. Helen R. Abadiano are recipients of the 2005 Summer Curriculum Grant. Dr. Catherine Kurkjian is the recipient of the Connecticut Reading Association (CRA) Literacy Award as Outstanding Literacy Educator, recipient of the 2005 New England Reading Association Literacy Award, and Keynote Speaker at the 51^st Annual Conference of The Connecticut Reading Association. Dr. Catherine Kurkjian and Mr. James Johnston received the 2004-2005 Faculty Development Grant. Ms. Cara Mulcahy received the 2004-2005 Wirth-Santoro Scholarship from the Connecticut Association for Reading Research. The 2005-2006 Wirth-Santoro Scholarship from the Connecticut Association for Reading Research award recipient is Jenny Scialdone, a graduate student in reading and language arts.

The Graduate Society of Reading (GSR) founded in Fall, 2004, is an organization dedicated to serving the graduate students of the Department of Reading and Language Arts. Through the GSR graduate students in reading and language arts will have a forum for discussion on topics relevant to literacy, education and professional development by organizing and sponsoring speakers, workshops and mini-conferences in the areas of literacy. Current Officers of GSR are: President, Jenny Scialdone; Vice-President, Melissa Barber; Joseph Pandolfio, Treasurer. Cara Mulcahy is faculty advisor.

Founding Members of the Beta Kappa Chapter of the Alpha Upsilon Alpha Honor Society of the International Reading Association for undergraduate students at Central Connecticut State University, were inducted on April 17, 2005. The Honor Society recognizes and encourages scholarship, development of personal and professional leadership qualities, and service to the field of literacy education. Speaker: Dr. Ellen W. Whitford, Provost and Interim Vice-President for Academic Affairs. Faculty Advisor: Catherine Kurkjian

The Department of Reading and Language Arts graduated its first Jamaican cohort with a Master of Science degree in reading and language arts in Montego Bay, Summer, 2004. Graduation Ceremony was held in January, 2005. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ellen W. Whitford, Provost and Interim Vice-President for Academic Affairs.

Two Jamaican cohorts in the Master of Science degree in reading and language arts in Montego Bay and Kingston, Jamaica completed their programs Summer, 2005.