Members of the Neag School of Education Alumni Board, along with Neag School faculty, staff, and administrators; friends of the university; and guests, gathered this past Saturday on the UConn Storrs campus for the 19th Annual Alumni Awards Celebration. This year’s sold-out event honored six outstanding Neag School graduates in a number of award categories.
“Our 2017 Alumni Award recipients serve as such remarkable examples of accomplishment and commitment across the field of education,” says Dean Gladis Kersaint. “Each of these individuals exemplifies strong leadership, collegiality, and service to others. It is an honor for us to recognize them in this way before their colleagues, family, friends, and supporters.” View photos from the event on our Facebook page.
Outstanding School Educator
Shamim S. Patwa ’97 MA, ’00 6th Year, ’03 Ph.D. — School psychologist at Goodwin Elementary School, Mansfield (Conn.), and adjunct professor, the Department of Educational Psychology at the Neag School
Shamim S. Patwa earned three degrees in school psychology from UConn’s Neag School of Education, including a master of arts in 1997, a Sixth Year Diploma in 2000, and a Ph.D. in 2003. Prior to this, she earned a bachelor of arts degree from Smith College, a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Colorado, and an administrator certification from Sacred Heart University.
Patwa began as an assistant professor-in-residence at UConn in 2012 in the Neag School’s Department of Educational Psychology, becoming an adjunct professor within the same department in 2013. As adjunct professor in the Department of Educational Psychology, Patwa taught seminars for doctoral- and master’s-level school psychology students and participated on dissertation committees.
In 2013, she was appointed school psychologist at Goodwin Elementary School, where she participates in group and individual counseling sessions with an emphasis on problem-solving and conflict resolution; conducts classroom-based character education programs across all grades; and is a member of the school-wide data team.
Video Featuring Shamim S. Patwa
Outstanding School Administrator
Carter Welch ’99 (ED), ’11 Ed.D., ’12 ELP — Principal of Jerome Harrison Elementary School, North Branford, Conn.
Carter Welch received his bachelor of science in sport medicine in 1999, his Ed.D. in 2011, and a certificate in educational leadership in 2012, all from UConn’s Neag School of Education. He is currently enrolled in the Neag School’s PK-3 Leadership Program. Welch earned a master of science in school health and a master of science in exercise science at Southern Connecticut State University.
Prior to his current position, Welch taught physical education to students in the North Branford school district from 2002 to 2005. In 2005, he became the K-12 coordinator for health and physical education for four schools in the district. As coordinator, Welch supervised and evaluated K-5 classroom teachers in health education curriculum; led curriculum teams in health and physical education during curriculum cycle phases; and led professional development on differentiated instruction for all district physical education and health teachers.
Welch served as the dean of students for grades 9 to 12 from 2008 to 2010 before becoming an adjunct professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at SCSU in 2013. In 2014, Welch took on the role of becoming a coach, consultant, and research affiliate with the National School Climate Center in New York. He worked as assistant principal of North Branford High School from 2010 to 2013 before moving to Jerome Harrison Elementary.
Outstanding School Superintendent
Alan Addley ’07 ELP, ’14 Ed.D. — Superintendent of Granby (Conn.) Public Schools
Alan Addley received his Ed.D. from UConn’s Neag School of Education in 2014. Prior to this, Addley earned his Connecticut Intermediate Administrator Certification in 1997 and a Connecticut Superintendent certificate from the Executive Leadership Program in 2007, both from the Neag School. Addley received a bachelor of science degree in education and mathematics from the New University of Ulster in Northern Ireland in 1984 and a master of science degree in education from Western Connecticut State University in 1993.
His prior professional work experience includes working as the director of studies for Rumsey Hall Soccer School in Washington, Conn. overseeing academic life starting in 1988. In 1993, Addley served as the math department chair at the Gunnery School in Washington, Conn., and in 1994, became the acting math department chair at Wamogo Regional High School in Litchfield, Conn. He became vice principal of Watertown High School in 1996 and assistant principal in 1997 at Hazelwood Integrated College in Northern Ireland. In 1998, Addley returned to Connecticut and began working as assistant principal of Granby Memorial High School.
Addley became principal of Granby Memorial High in 2001, where he implemented a professional learning community model for school improvement that has resulted in a significant increase in student achievement and increased program opportunities for all students. He has served as superintendent of Granby (Conn.) Public Schools since 2008.
Outstanding Professional
Alan Kraut ’73 (ED) — Executive director of the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System
Alan Kraut received his bachelor of science degree at UConn’s school of education in 1973. He went on to earn a master of arts degree in developmental psychology in 1975 and a Ph.D. in developmental psychology in 1977 from Syracuse University.
Kraut started out as an assistant professor of psychology in 1977 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where he taught at until 1980. During the summers of 1978 and 1979, Kraut taught psychology as an assistant visiting professor at Syracuse University. Kraut then left to work for the American Psychological Association, where he held various positions, including executive director of science, up until 1989. Kraut became the founding executive director of the then-new Association for Psychological Science, where he worked until 2015.
Kraut has been executive director of the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System since 2016. As executive director, he is responsible for developing a new independent accreditation system for clinical psychology, recruiting and accrediting new programs that are focused on science, and overseeing all financial and administrative activities.
Outstanding Higher Education Professional
Maria D. Martinez ’83 MSW, ’96 Ph.D. — Assistant vice provost at the Institute for Student Success in Undergraduate Education and Instruction at the University of Connecticut
Maria D. Martinez earned a master of social work degree from the University of Connecticut in 1983. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in professional higher education administration at UConn’s Neag School of Education in 1996. Prior to that, she earned her bachelor of arts degree in sociology from the City University of New York.
Martinez began her career at UConn in 1986 as a counselor within Student Support Services (SSS), where she worked with low-income, first-generation college students. She became the SSS program director in 1993. In 1995, Martinez became the director of the Center for Academic Programs, where she managed the operations of the TRIO Programs (Student Support Services, Upward Bound, and Talent Search).
In 2011, she was named assistant vice provost for ISS and UE&I, where she provides strategic and operational leadership for units and programs within ISS; oversees the delivery of services to facilitate the transition from secondary school to college; and manages the Institute’s budget.
Video Featuring Maria D. Martinez
Lifetime Achievement Award
Melvyn L. Reich ’69 Ph.D. — Professor Emeritus at UConn’s Neag School of Education and special education advocate
Mevlyn L. Reich earned his Ph.D. in special education at UConn’s school of education in 1969. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in psychology at Brown University in 1961 and a master of education degree in special education at Rhode Island College in 1965.
Reich was a special education faculty member at UConn’s school of education for 22 years, and is now a professor emeritus. After retiring from the Neag School in 1992, he has spent the past 25 years serving as director of special education programs in public and private schools in Connecticut, and later in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. During this time, he continued to provide consulting services to a number of private and public organizations. He also regularly provides pro bono advocacy services for special needs children and their families, and volunteers his time as an expert witness on special education-related matters. Prior to his time at UConn, he was an assistant professor at Rhode Island College and a visiting instructor at the University of Maine.
