Dana Oliver, a 2020 Southwestern College graduate, recently received the Association of Teacher Education Programs of Kansas (ATE-K) Distinguished Dissertation Award.

Oliver is an assistant professor of literacy education and reading specialist program director at Southwestern Oklahoma University.

Each year, prior to the spring conference, doctoral students are encouraged to submit a synopsis of their dissertation for review.  The synopsis is then evaluated by a panel of ATE-K dissertation committee members. The $250 award is to help encourage, recognize, and promote exemplary doctoral-level research that substantially contributes to the improvement of teacher education.

Oliver will present her research at the ATE-K/KACTE spring conference 2023.

“I am honored to receive the ATE-K Dissertation Award,” Oliver says.  “It is a great blessing to have the organization recognize my work and most importantly the findings brought about by the lived experiences of participants. I am further grateful to the committee who guided me to develop a study worthy of the award. I hope this recognition will further the influence of the findings and increase awareness of appropriate approaches to creating passionate and engaged readers.”