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Chuck Carney
IU School of Education
ccarney@indiana.edu
812-856-8027

Last modified: Monday, June 13, 2011

Two gifts establish $1 million School of Education Dean's Fellowship Fund

Alumnae estate gifts leave legacy of excellence by creating fund to support top graduate students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2011

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.-- The Indiana University School of Education will benefit from two gifts from the estates of noted Indiana artist and teacher Lavon Whitmire (BA '29) and education leader Dorothy Prince Barnett (EdD '62). Both gifts were designated for general support of the School of Education and will be used to establish a $1 million Dean's Fellowship Fund to recruit and support top graduate students.

"We are grateful for Ms. Whitmire's and Dr. Barnett's legacy of support for the School of Education," said Gerardo Gonzalez, dean of the school. "The ability to recruit world-class graduate students is critical to fulfilling our teaching and research mission. Our graduate students produce innovative research across multiple academic disciplines, and go on to become the next generation of teachers, administrators, professors and policy makers."

Graduate Student

The generous gifts to the School of Education from Dorothy Prince Barnet and Lavon Whitmire will be used to recruit and support top graduate students.

Recipients of the Dean's Fellowship will receive a $25,000 stipend and fee remission for 24 credit hours per year. To be eligible, applicants must have a 3.9 undergraduate GPA and a 1400 combined score for the quantitative and verbal sections of the GRE with at least a 5.0 analytical writing score. Non-native English speakers must have a score of 150 on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

"This fellowship will build upon our base of already high-achieving graduate students," said Elizabeth Boling, associate dean for graduate studies at the IU School of Education, noting that three of the school's graduate students have earned the prestigious Wells Fellowship from IU in the last three years. "We expect our students learn but also contribute in their field of study. I expect this fellowship to help us attract students who will do so, increasing the recognition our programs already receive."

Such graduate fellowship support contributes to the school's already excellent national reputation. The IU School of Education ranks 21st overall and 11th among public university graduate schools in the most recent U.S. News and World Report listing of "Best Graduate Schools." Five of the School of Education's specialized degree programs rank in the top 10 for their categories: fifth for higher education administration, eighth for elementary education, ninth for counseling/personnel services and 10th for both secondary education, and curriculum and instruction.

Whitmire was an alumna of the Indiana University Herron School of Art and Design, making important contributions to her community and the state of Indiana as a painter, graphic artist and Washington High School art teacher in Indianapolis. She was featured in Peter Falk's milestone work in American art reference, Who Was Who in American Art, 1564-1975, 400 Years of Artists in America.

Barnett earned her doctorate from Indiana University and spent her entire career at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She began in 1955 as a teacher of English, education and psychology and retired in 1994 as dean of the School of Education. During her tenure, she served with distinction in numerous academic and administrative roles and made history as the first female dean for the School of Education.

More information about graduate programs at the School of Education is available on the school website, www.education.indiana.edu. More information about the IU School of Education graduate programs is at the link https://education.indiana.edu/gso/FutureStudents/tabid/4996/Default.aspx.