Dr. Patricia Reeves and Dr. Jianping Shen selected as Distinguished Research and Creative Scholarship awardees
Dec. 18, 2017
Kalamazoo, Mich.—Dr. Patricia Reeves, associate professor, and Dr. Jianping Shen, the John E. Sandberg Professor of Education and the Gwen Frostic Endowed Chair for Research and Innovation, both from WMU’s Department of Educational Leadership, Research, and Technology in the College of Education and Human Development, have been selected as Distinguished Research and Creative Scholarship awardees by the Office of the Vice President of Research’s Research Recognition Committee. This award recognizes outstanding research and scholarly efforts across disciplines. The Research Recognition Committee selects those whose scholarly work enhances and builds the discovery enterprise of Western Michigan University. The awards will be presented to Reeves and Shen at the 2018 Spring Convocation on February 23.
Reeves and Shen received a $12.5 million award from the U.S. Department of Education to fund the High-Impact Leadership for School Renewal Project, one of the largest single grants ever awarded the University. The project is a three-year effort aimed at intense school leadership development and student achievement in high-poverty schools across West Michigan. More information about the project can be found in this WMU News article.
Reeves specializes in educational leadership and evaluation, measurement and research. She is co-author of School ADvance, one of two research-based performance evaluation systems for school leaders validated by the Michigan Council for Educator Effectiveness and adopted by more than 80 percent of Michigan school districts. Her research interests include school district and superintendent leadership, the development and credentialing of school leaders, educator performance assessment and evaluation, and education policy. Before joining the WMU faculty, Reeves held several positions, from teacher to superintendent, in the Vicksburg Community Schools.
Shen was a 2017 WMU Distinguished Grant awardee and has directed or co-directed externally funded projects totaling more than $13 million from the U.S. Department of Education, the Wallace Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Spencer Foundation, among others, that have focused on such topics as principal leadership, school renewal, data-informed decision-making, teacher retention and attrition, alternative certification, and systemic change. Shen directs the Merze Tate Center for Grants and Innovation and the Center for Educational Leadership and Policy.