As the new dean of the multi-faceted
College of Education and Human
Development, Hollis Lowery-Moore says
she takes it one day at a time.
“I work hard on time management,
making sure that each department gets the
attention it deserves,” she said.
With her considerable experience,
Lowery-Moore is destined to bring great
changes to the college.
“Hollis brings to this position precisely
the range of teaching and administrative
credentials we were seeking, from doctoral
program development and leadership to
substantial experience with the country’s
premier teacher education accrediting body
to national stature in her discipline,”
Stephen Doblin, provost and executive vice
president for academic affairs, said.
Since joining Lamar in August,
Lowery-Moore has used this semester to
observe the college and decide what
improvements need to be made.
“It is an exciting time at Lamar. I
think things are growing and changing in a
positive way, ” Lowery-Moore said.
The college is working on re-accreditation
by The National Council for
Accreditation of Teacher Education. The
NCATE accreditation team is scheduled to
visit the college in spring 2006.
She also plans to foster relationships
between the college, the public schools and
community colleges.
Community colleges are the primary
feeder schools for educator preparation,
and Lowery-Moore would like to make it
easier for students to transfer.
In addition, she wants to work with
the public schools to help improve teacher
retention. “When you are talking
about preparing teachers, the job
doesn’t stop with college education.
When they get out, they are novice
teachers, and we need to work with
school districts and regional service
centers to help them stay in the
profession”, Lowery-Moore said.
The college is growing with an
enrollment of 1,803 students and the
creation of several new programs.
In August, the college began its
educational leadership doctoral
program. It is based on a cohort
model where students move through
the program together and provide
support for one another.
“What makes our doctorate unique is
that it is for working professionals,”
Lowery-Moore said. Most of the inaugural
class of 15 students have full-time positions
in school districts. The next cohort will
begin in fall 2005.
Currently, the community-based
graduate program in public health in the
Department of Health and Kinesiology
is at the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board for approval.
In the Department of Family and
Consumer Sciences, the culinary program
was accredited by the American Culinary
Federation in 2002, making it one of only
seven four-year institutions in the country
with that status.
The dietetic internship program,
which links students directly with potential
employers, is accredited by the American
Dietetic Association. It is one of only a few
in the state with that distinction.
Before coming to Lamar, Lowery-
Moore was the associate dean of the
College of Education and Applied Science
at Sam Houston State University in
Huntsville. She was responsible for
accreditation, accountability, certification,
educational partnerships, field experience,
advisement and technology resource
programs of the college’s educator
preparation programs.
A prolific author, she has published
more than 20 scholarly articles in professional
publications and serves as a peer
reviewer for several professional publications.
An in-demand presenter, she frequently
speaks at state, regional, national
and international conferences, conventions
and workshops on a wide range of topics
in teacher education.
Lowery-Moore is taking in the culture
of Beaumont and the dynamics of Lamar.
“Being here is a wonderful opportunity
for me to grow and learn and be a part
of something exciting.”
