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By Sedonia Martin on August 15, 2017

Katherine (Kay) Holman, Ph.D., an associate professor in the College of Education's Department of Special Education, has been awarded the Wilson H. Elkins Professorship, an endowed professorship from the University System of Maryland (USM). Holman is one of four professors selected by USM.

The 2017-18 USM Wilson H. Elkins Professorships were awarded to faculty members at three USM institutions, in disciplines spanning marine sciences, ophthalmological research and education.  

Holman received $40,000 to develop an immersion training classroom and family support program, in partnership with the Baltimore County Infants and Toddlers Program. The program will serve infants and toddlers with disabilities and function as a training program for TU students in the College of Education.

Services will be provided to children three days a week while their parents participate in a family support program facilitated by Holman. Families will be engaged in discussions and provided resources and training on relevant topics that will enhance their understanding and increase their ability to support their child's development at home and in the community.  

Holman will also create immersion training opportunities for TU students and Baltimore County professionals to be coached on their implementation of evidence-based practices within the classroom.  This immersion training program will extend the knowledge gained from students' coursework into their teaching practice while also providing family members with information and resources that will empower them to be their child's best advocate.

鈥�I am deeply humbled and grateful to be awarded the Wilson H. Elkins Professorship from the University Systems of Maryland,鈥� said Holman. 鈥淭he professorship will provide rich opportunities to increase the impact our programs have on preparing educators to be effective and compassionate in teaching students with disabilities and supporting their families.

鈥淥ur field is at a turning point where it is vital to create training programs that allow both pre-service and in-service educators to receive hands-on training and guided reflection of their practice in order for their teaching to be as effective as possible," continued Holman.鈥�The Elkins award will allow me to develop a multi-faceted training program and research its effectiveness so that TU can continue to lead the way in preparing high-quality educators for our increasingly diverse classrooms.鈥�

According to the USM website, the Elkins Professorships support professors and researchers who demonstrate exemplary ability to inspire students and whose professional work and scholarly endeavors make a positive impact at their institutions, across the USM, and beyond.

Candidates for the Elkins Professorship must possess a solid record of achievement in their academic or professional disciplines; demonstrate a desire and ability to lead and inspire undergraduate and graduate students; show significant achievement beyond their traditional disciplines; and demonstrate ability and intent to pursue scholarly or professional endeavors beyond USM.

The Wilson H. Elkins Professorship was established in 1978 as the first permanently endowed, university-wide professorship at the University of Maryland.

It honors the late Wilson H. Elkins, who led the University of Maryland to new levels of distinction as its president from 1954 to 1978. The Wilson H. Elkins Endowment Fund supports the professorship awards in combination with institutional and system resources. This endowment and others like it further USM's mission of teaching, research and public service. For more information, visit the web page.

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel鈥檚 priorities for Towson University: TU Matters to Maryland and Strategic Plan Alignment.