University Park, Pa. -- John W. Tippeconnic, professor of educational leadership, has been appointed the Batschelet Chaired Professor of educational administration in Penn State’s College of Education. His five-year term begins Dec. 1.
A member of the Comanche Tribe, Tippeconnic is director of the American Indian Leadership Program (AILP) and co-director of the Center for the Study of Leadership in American Indian Education (CSLAIE), both housed in the College of Education. The AILP is the nation's longest continuously operating educational leadership program for American Indians and Alaska Natives. CSLAIE conducts research and outreach that helps inform the public and improve the education of American Indians and Alaska Natives at the local, state, tribal, national, and international levels.
"It is an honor to serve the Educational Leadership Program and the College of Education as Batschelet Chair," said Tippeconnic. "I look forward to working with my colleagues to promote scholarly research, teaching and service during these times of opportunities and challenges facing our schools and communities. Effective educational leadership is essential to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse society."
Tippeconnic holds a doctorate in educational administration. He has served at the Bureau of Indian Affairs as director of the Office of Indian Educations Programs and also as director of the Office of Indian Education with the U.S. Department of Education. He serves on various boards, including the Gates Millennium Scholars Research Advisory Committee, Comanche Nation College, and until recently the American Association of Higher Education. In 1997, he was honored as the Indian Educator of the Year by the National Indian Education Association.
"John Tippeconnic is a distinguished leader in the field of educational leadership, and we are delighted to recognize his accomplishments by appointing him to this chair," said David H. Monk, dean of the College of Education. "He is deeply committed to strengthening the scholarly base of educational leadership and will devote his energies toward realizing the high ideals associated with the Batschelet Chair."
The Harry Lawrence Batschelet II Chair of Educational Administration is intended to continue and further scholarly excellence through contributions to instruction, research, and public service to support the field of educational administration. It was established in 2001 as the result of a gift from Batschelet, a member of the class of 1953 and former vice president for financial development at the American National Red Cross.
The Batschelet Chair is one of five faculty endowments in the College of Education. The other four are the Kenneth B. Waterbury Chair in Secondary Education, held by Richard A. Duschl; the Henry J. Hermanowicz Professorship in Education, held by James F. Nolan; the Gilbert and Donna Kahn Professorship in Education in Recognition of David H. Monk and Graham B. Spanier, held by Carla M. Zembal-Saul; and the Harry and Marion Royer Eberly Faculty Fellowship in Education, held by James C. DiPerna.