University of Central Florida Welcomes Dr. Sharon P. Robinson as College of Education Commencement Speaker

CONTACT:
Jade Floyd,
amangino@aacte.org
or 202.478.4596

Who:     Sharon P. Robinson, Ed.D., president and CEO of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), is the speaker for The University of Central Florida’s (UCF) College of Education commencement ceremonies.

When:     Saturday, May 5, 2007 at 2 p.m. Interviews are available after speech by contacting Jade Floyd, communications manager AACTE, 202.478.4596 or jfloyd@aacte.org prior to the event.
Where: University of Central Florida Arena, Building 50, North Gemini Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816. For directions call 407.823.6006

Why:     UCF produces more than 1155 teacher candidates for the State of Florida each year. The university was also AACTE’s past award winner for Collaboration with Community Colleges. AACTE has 15 members in the State of Florida who collectively produce 6,763 teacher candidates each year.

Dr. Robinson was selected as AACTE’s top executive in 2005 and assumed leadership of the association in April of that year. In selecting Dr. Robinson, AACTE’s board of directors acknowledged her strong commitment to high-quality teaching, rigorous scholarship, and diversity in the nation’s teaching workforce. A lifelong civil rights activist, Robinson has waged a personal crusade to realize the nation’s moral and professional responsibility to educate and maximize the potential of minority and disabled students.

Dr. Robinson was formerly president of the Educational Testing Service’s Educational Policy Leadership Institute. Before joining ETS, Robinson was assistant secretary of education with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Research and Improvement.

She also held a variety of leadership positions at the National Education Association, including director of the National Center for Innovation, NEA’s research and development arm. Just prior to joining AACTE, Robinson served briefly as interim deputy director of the National PTA’s Programs and Legislation office.

Robinson received her doctorate in educational administration and supervision from the University of Kentucky, where she also earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. In 2002, she completed the renowned Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.

Among her many awards are an honorary doctorate from the University of Louisville, the Award of Appreciation from the National Head Start Association, the Founders Award from the National Commission for African American Education, the Pinnacles of Excellence Award of the Helping Hands Enrichment & Leadership Foundation, the Teacher for America Award, and the Girl Scouts’ Woman of Distinction Award.

How:     Guests must have tickets to attend the commencement ceremonies. For guests without tickets, live telecasts of all of the ceremonies will be shown at the Fairwinds Alumni Center across from the UCF Arena. The ceremonies also can be viewed online at http://webcast.oir.ucf.edu/. For more information on commencement, go to www.registrar.ucf.edu/Comsked.html.