Prof. McDade to Attend Fulbright-Hays Seminar

Dr. Claudia McDade

By Sherry Kughn
News Bureau

March 17 -- Jacksonville State University's Dr. Claudia McDade, professor of psychology and director of Learning Services, will go to Bulgaria to attend the Fulbright-Hays Seminar in July and August with 15 other American educators.

"I'm excited. I'm on a cloud. I can't quit shouting about it," she said.

McDade credits her faculty group, Academe, and especially her colleague, Dr. Brenda Phillips, JSU professor of emergency preparedness, with encouraging her to apply to the seminar. McDade plans to submit a curriculum project about her study of the psychology of gender, especially how women's roles in the former Soviet Block countries are changing as the country becomes democratized.

Besides hearing from American educators, the purpose of the seminar is also to increase the teachers' knowledge of Bulgaria and Southeast Europe. The Fulbright Commission hopes that upon the teachers' return to the U.S. they will promote understanding between countries and share their experiences.

McDade will take part in lectures, discussions, workshops and meetings, which should help her better understand the history and culture of Bulgaria. Also to be studied are Bulgaria's efforts to become a member of the European Union and NATO. McDade will meet with representatives of Parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education and Science. McDade will travel to several cities and key sites, especially institutions of learning, and will meet with members of the business community, artists and musicians.

McDade is also interested in observing and learning about theology in Bulgaria because of her studies through The University of the South in Swannee, TN. She is interested in the resurgence of the Christian faith throughout the Soviet Block and its general state of religion.

McDade has taught in the Department of Psychology since 1974 and has been the director of the Academic Center for Excellence/Learning Services since 1980. She works to develop and coordinate academic support services, such as her development of the course, "Freshman Success Skills," to assist first year students. Her Center for Individualized Instruction at JSU was named in 1988 as a model program in the National Directory of Exemplary Programs in Developmental Education.

McDade holds a doctorate from Louisiana State University. She was editor of the Journal of Precision Teaching and Celeration from 1990-2001, was consulting editor for The Behavior Analyst from 1991-93, and is a guest reviewer for various books of psychology.

McDade is past recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Award from JSU, an Outstanding Developmental Education Program award, the USA Group/Noel-Levitz Retention Excellence Award to the ExCEL Program, and an Outstanding Educator Award from the Women Committed to Excellence program, and holds many other awards and achievements.

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