Through the generosity of many alumni and friends the College of Education now has its first endowed professorship. Dr. Trey Berry, President of SAU, announced that Dr. Neelie Dobbins, Associate Professor of Teacher Education, was selected to hold the title.
Dr. Neelie Dobbins
“The effort to secure this endowed professorship was unlike any other in SAU history,” said Dr. Berry. “It was truly a grassroots effort involving the hard work of a committee of College of Education alumni and the gifts of dozens of people who made this possible.”
“Dr. Dobbins’ dedication to the profession of teaching, her commitment to students, and her service to the College make her the perfect candidate for this honor,” said Dr. Kim Bloss, Dean of the College.
Dobbins has been teaching at SAU since 2010 and has an exemplary record of teaching, service, and research. She has chaired the Department of Teacher Education since 2015 and served as the department’s Accreditation Coordinator since 2017. She is a dedicated teacher and advisor to more than 100 students. Her research record includes numerous journal publications and presentations at local, state, regional, and national conferences. Dr. Dobbins is passionate about teacher education and continues SAU’s legacy of preparing the best educators in the state.
“I am beyond honored and grateful for the opportunities I have been provided by SAU to learn and grow,” she said. “This is another way for the Teacher Education Department and me to develop as educators to ensure we have the best pedagogical practices and technology available.”
Special thanks to Steve and Deborah Nipper as well as the Professorship Steering Committee who led the effort in funding this endowment.
