Los Ninos Conference Sketches Permanent Effects of Childhood Stress


700: The number of new neural connections formed every second in the first year of a child’s life.

18 months: The age at which differences in vocabulary appear between children of college-educated parents, and children whose parents did not graduate high school.

90 to 100 percent: The chance of significant developmental delays for a child who experiences risk factors such as poverty, maltreatment, a parent with mental illness or substance abuse problems, hunger, homelessness, or a mother with a low education level.

1 in 3: The odds that a child facing these stressors will later face heart disease.

The fragility of young, rapidly-developing children cannot be understated, said Shelia Evans-Tranumn, Ph.D., on April 18, at the ninth annual Young Child Expo and Conference, co-sponsored by the Graduate School of Education (GSE). Adverse circumstances can interrupt that development severely, and possibly permanently.  Kicking off the three-day conference, James J. Hennessy, Ph.D., dean of GSE, presented Evans-Tranumn with the Excellence in Early Childhood award for her “extraordinary championship and advocacy for young children and their families.”

Click here to read the full story in Inside Fordham.



James J. Hennessy, Ph.D., dean of GSE, left, and Vincent Alfonso, Ph.D., professor psychological and educational services, right, present the Excellence in Early Childhood award to Shelia Evans-Tranumn



PESCE Program Application Deadline Extended

GSE's MSE degree in Preparing Early Childhood Special Educators (PECSE) has extended it's Fall 2012 application deadline to May 31st, 2012.
PECSE is a federally funded scholarship program to train certified early childhood teachers to become trainers and leaders in the early childhood special education (ECSE) field. Major outcomes of this project include acquisition of knowledge and skills as certified ECSE teachers addressing challenging behavior, response to intervention, development of collaboration and leadership skills, and promoting the school readiness skills of high-need young children with disabilities.

Click here to read more about the program, or here to apply!

4th Annual Assessment Conference: Learning Difficulties

GSE presents the 4th Annual Assessment Conference:

"Differential Diagnoses Of, and Interventions For, Learning Difficulties"

When: May 11, 2012, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Where: Graduate School of Education, Lincoln Center (Pope Auditorium)
Who: Keynote Speaker, George McCloskey, Ph.D..  Featuring Steven Feifer, Ed.D., NSCP, ABSNP and Michele Mazzocco, Ph.D.
What: Session titles include: The Role of Executive Functions in Academic Production (McCloskey); Identifying Building Blocks and Stumbling Blocks to Mathematical Learning and Performance (Mazzocco); Integrating RTI With Cognitive Neuropsychology: A Scientific Approach to Reading (Feifer).

For further information, or to register click here
Please direct inquiries to Emily Rentz at sceccevents@fordham.edu or 212-636-7761

Presented by: the Fordham University Graduate School of Education, Pearson Assessments and Wiley Publishers.

Sponsored by:  NYASP, St. John’s University, the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, Teachers College, Long Island University Brooklyn, The College of Saint Rose, Mental Health Systems, The Gateway Schools, The Aaron School, Aaron Academy, Rebecca School, Block Institute,Kids, Inc., The Gow School, and Brooklyn College.

Faculty Honors: Dr. Margo Jackson

Margo A. Jackson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology at GSE, was selected to serve on the national Master’s Competencies Workgroup, co-sponsored by American Psychological Association Society of Counseling Psychology and the Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs (CCPTP), with Drs. Michael Scheel (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), James Lichtenberg (University of Kansas), and Nadya Fouad (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee). The group drafted and disseminated for public comment the document Competencies in Professional Counseling and Human Services, a developmental grid for master’s training with a rating scale and behavioral examples. The document built on the foundation of the APA Benchmark Competencies for doctoral training in professional psychology and included proposed alignment with accreditation standards of the Master’s Council of Counseling Accreditation. Dr. Jackson et al. gave a presentation at the CCPTP Midwinter Conference in Miami, FL in February, titled “Future of Counseling Psychology in Schools of Education: Endorsement of the Master’s Training Competencies." The master’s training competencies grid document was then endorsed by a vote of the CCPTP membership.

Dr. Jackson also co-authored with Fordham University alum Jonathan P. Rust, Ph.D. (now an assistant professor of psychology and counseling at the State University of New York at New Paltz) an article on the results of his dissertation study, titled “Biculturalism, Cultural Identity, Self-esteem, and Academic Achievement of African American High School Students.” Along with co-authors Drs. Joseph Ponterotto and Fran Blumberg, the article was published in the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development.

GSE Unveils New Programs

Starting in July, the Graduate School of Education (GSE) will launch three new programs, including a Ph.D. program in Contemporary Learning and Interdisciplinary Research (CLAIR), an Accelerated Master’s Program in Educational Leadership (A.M.P.E.L.), and an advanced certificate program in School District Leadership (SDL).

“Each of them serves a different purpose, but each of them is a response to the changes that are going on in K-12 education,” said James J. Hennessy, Ph.D., dean of GSE.

Click here to read the full story in Inside Fordham.

Dr. Bill Baker on Digital Parasites

In an interview with Robert Levine, author of "Free Ride: How Digital Parasites Are Destroying the Culture Business, and How The Culture Business Can Fight Back," Dr. Bill Baker (Claudio Aquaviva Chair of Education and Journalist in Residence) discusses the need for the culture business (news, books, music, and movies) in the 21st century to re-think how it is impacted by some of our basic assumptions about how the Internet should work:



Click here to view the clip on Dr. Baker's WNET/Thirteen blog.

GSE Announces Advanced Certificate in School District Leadership (SDL)

The Fordham University Graduate School of Education is pleased to announce that we now offer an Advanced Certificate Program in School District Leadership (SDL)!

The School District Leader Certificate is required for all individuals seeking leadership positions in New York State at the school district level, such as Superintendents, Deputy and Assistant Superintendents, District Administrators, Supervisors in Curriculum Areas, and Supervisors of Pupil Personnel Services.

The 15 credit program offered at the Fordham Lincoln Center campus combines theory with clinically-rich learning experiences to enable students to develop the knowledge, skills and aptitudes necessary to lead effectively at the school district level. 

The SDL certificate includes:

• Intensive weekend course structure model;
• One-semester, clinically-rich district-level internship (may be taken summer, spring or fall);
• Learning strategies and experiences such as: class discussions, case studies, guest speakers, relevant field experiences embedded in each course, in-basket exercises, relevant readings, project-based learning, and action research.

This program is approved by the New York State Education Department  and is an approved New York State SDL program.*  However, given students’ individual educational and professional backgrounds, all prospective students should visit the NYSED website to review all certification requirements to determine whether this program and your respective educational and professional backgrounds will meet state requirements for certification as a school district leader.  

Applicants to the SDL certificate must possess a Master's degree and have 3 years paid, full-time Admin/PPS/Classroom Teaching experience (in addition to meeting general GSE admission criteria).   Please visit our website for further admissions and application information.

We are currently accepting applications for Summer 2012!  The application deadline is June 1st.  Click here to apply today!

To assist you in finding out more about this exceptional learning experience, we would like to invite prospective students to join us for an Information Session:

Wednesday, May 2nd:
     Lincoln Center Campus
Thursday, May 3rd:
     Westchester Campus

Click here for further information about these sessions.
Please RSVP to gse_admiss@fordham.edu and indicate which session you would like to attend, as well as your interest in the School District Leader Advanced Certificate.

*Pending final SED modification approval (forthcoming).

GSE Student Research: Matthew Mandelbaum on Math Achievement at APS Convention

Matthew Mandelbaum, a current doctoral student in Educational Psychology at GSE, presented his poster session research at the 23rd Annual Association for Psychological Science (APS) Convention in Washington D.C.  The session was entitled "Mastery, Need for Cognition, and Self-Efficacy Promote Long-Term Math Achievement in Adolescent Females." 

Mandelbaum's research shows that "growing" is better than "showing" when it comes to learning math.  To figure out how students learn math effectively, he looked at the learning progress of high school girls over the course of one semester to determine how the their cumulative math exam grades were related to various factors, including previous grades, confidence, whether the girls wanted to engage in complex thinking processes, and whether the girls were interested in mastery (growing their math knowledge) versus performance (showing their skills).



Click here to read more on the APS Convention Video Blog.

GSE at NAGAP Graduate School Fair- Austin, Texas

GSE will be attending National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP) Graduate School Fair at the 25th Annual NAGAP Coference in Austin, Texas on Saturday, April 28th.  The event will be held at the University of Texas at Austin's Red McCombs Red Zone from 1:00 - 3:30 pm

If you are in the area or a a student at UT Austin, we hope you will stop by our table.  We look forward to meeting you!

Faculty Speak: Dr. Vincent Alfonso

Dr. Vincent C. Alfonso, Ph.D. (Professor, School Psychology program at GSE) will be participating in a panel discussion at the Bronx Early Childhood Education Consortium (BECEC) Conference entitled "Collaboration for Quality Early Childhood Education" at Mercy College on April 24th.  Dr. Alfonso will join early childhood educators in the field and teacher educators in higher education for a ground-breaking discussion about how two consortia can best work together to best provide high-quality education for the youngest members of the Bronx Community. 

Click here to register to attend the conference.

Happy Easter from GSE

Fordham University will be closed from Thursday, April 5th, until Monday, April 9th.  The University will re-open on Tuesday, April 10th.

GSE wishes you a very relaxing break and happy Easter holiday!

GSE Co-Hosts Early Childhood Extravaganza with Diocese of Brooklyn

The GSE Center for Catholic School Leadership and Faith-Based Education teamed up with Catholic School Support Services of the Diocese of Brooklyn to host the 20th Annual Early Childhood Extravaganza.

Presented March 30 in Douglaston, Queens, the event drew more than 200 teachers and administrators.

“There’s an increasing understanding of the importance of early childhood education as foundational to the growth and development of the student,” said Patricia Kelly-Stiles, Ed.D., associate director for the Center and a co-organizer of the event. “The diocese was most grateful that members of the GSE community were willing to share their insights and expertise with early childhood educators.”

Click here to read the full story on the Fordham Newsblog.

Spring Information Sessions: May 2nd and 3rd

If you or someone you know is interested in enrolling in a Graduate School of Education degree or certificate program, please join us next month for an Information Session at the Lincoln Center or Westchester campus! At these session, you will have a chance to learn about the Graduate School of Education's tradition of excellence and the education that our students receive, as well as to meet with faculty in your program of interest.

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

Lowenstein Building (113 West 60th Street)

12th Floor Lounge

Registration begins at 4:30 pm

Program runs from 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Click here for direction to the Lincoln Center campus.

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

Westchester Campus (400 Westchester Avenue)

Registration begins at 4:30pm

Program runs from 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Click here for direction to the Westchester campus.

RSVP to either session by emailing gse_admiss@fordham.edu  (please indicate your program of interest and which session you plan to attend).

REMINDER: Information Sessions for CLAIR & A.M.P.E.L. This Week!

The GSE Office of Admissions invites prospective students and applicants to our NEW doctoral program in Contemporary Learning and Interdisciplinary Research (CLAIR) and our Accelerated Master's Program in Educational Leadership (A.M.P.E.L.) to attend Information Sessions this week! Our goal is to give you the opportunity to interact with admissions personnel and faculty to learn more about these innovative learning experiences. Attendees will be able to ask academic, admissions and financial aid-related questions.

Online Session for CLAIR:
     Monday, April 2nd
     5:00 pm
Click here for further details.

In-Person Session for A.M.P.E.L@ Fordham Westchester.:
     Tuesday, April 3rd
     6:30 pm
     Westchester Campus
     400 Westchester Avenue, West Harrison, NY
Click here for further details
If you would like to attend either of these sessions, please RSVP to Linda Horisk (Assistant Dean of Admissions) at horisk@fordham.edu.