HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 6, 2016 – High Point University welcomes three new faculty members to the School of Education. This fall, 49 new faculty are joining the university.
Dr. Adrienne Anderson, Assistant Professor of Education
Anderson, whose professional expertise is teaching students with learning and behavioral disorders in high-needs schools, will teach special education courses in adapted curriculum and behaviorism at HPU.
“I hope to prepare students to become experts in specialized educational strategies that are proven to improve the lives of those at greatest risk in U.S. schools,” says Anderson. “My research focus is on improving academic and behavioral outcomes of children and youth at risk for failure. I am dedicated and committed to bettering the lives and education for these students.”
A special education teacher of nine years, Anderson taught students with mild to moderate disabilities in urban elementary schools. She also was a program specialist of special education, Director of Special Education and professor. She has won awards for her research from the Council for Exceptional Children-Division of Research and the Applied Behavior Analysis conference in North Carolina, and has served as a reviewer for journals and professional associations. Anderson has a bachelor’s degree in curriculum and instruction and a master’s degree in special education from Virginia Tech, administrative licensure from Wingate University, and a doctorate in special education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Dr. Allison Blosser, Assistant Professor of Education
Blosser will teach a variety of courses in the school’s education studies minor, graduate program and undergraduate courses for students seeking to become high school English teachers. Her expertise is in educational policy and school reform. She has conducted research on how schools meet the needs of diverse populations and the need for globally minded educators.
“I hope to empower students to take a stand on educational issues,” says Blosser. “At the beginning of my courses, I like to remind my students that they all have relevant experiences to share because they have all been part of some educational system.”
Blosser, who lives in High Point, has taught courses at HPU as an adjunct professor for the past five years. For most of her professional career she taught high school English and worked as a college advisor.
She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Texas Christian University, a master’s degree in English literature from Michigan State University and a doctorate in cultural and educational policy studies from Loyola University Chicago, where she was awarded Dissertation of the Year and graduated with distinction. She has received the Loyola Advanced Doctoral Fellowship, the Lynn Clark Grant for Creativity in the Teaching of Writing and she is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She recently co-edited a book as part of the Oxford Series in Comparative Education titled “Teaching Comparative Education, Trends and Issues Informing Practice.”
Dr. Barbara Zwadyk, Associate Professor of Education
With more than 30 years of experience as a teacher, principal and administrator, Zwadyk will share her expertise in curriculum and instruction, leadership development and executive coaching by teaching various courses in the school’s educational leadership doctoral program. She also serves as internship coordinator and chair of the advisory board for the Ed.D. program.
“Part of my responsibility is to learn where students’ interests and needs lie and build from there,” she says. “Developing relationships and making connections both in and outside the classroom play an important role in impacting student learning, and that is a core component of our doctoral cohorts.”
Zwadyk has been a K-12 teacher and principal in both private and public schools. She was Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instructional Services in Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools. She was an Instructional Improvement Officer and Chief Curriculum and Organizational Development Officer in Guilford County Schools, from which she retired. She also served as Interim Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services in Chatham County Schools. She has been an adjunct professor at both the master’s and doctoral levels. Zwadyk most recently served as director and leadership coach for North Carolina New Schools|Breakthrough Learning, and as an adjunct at HPU.
She has a bachelor’s degree in French and English from Greensboro College, as well as Master of Education degrees in French and educational administration and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is certified in teaching French, English, language arts, mentoring, and holds principal and superintendent licenses.