Georgia State’s College of Education & Human Development Announces 2023 Partnership Award Recipients

Photo caption: Members of the College of Education & Human Development's faculty and administration pose with representatives from the Alliance Theatre Institute (top) and Project Access (bottom) at the college's Partnership Award Luncheon on Nov. 7.

Georgia State University’s College of Education & Human Development (CEHD) selected the Alliance Theatre Institute and Project Access as the 2023 recipients of the CEHD Partnership Award.

This annual award honors the valuable partnerships that exist between the college and members of the community. It celebrates these joint efforts to address educational and community challenges and advance the public good through sustained and collaborative initiatives.

The Alliance Theatre Institute partners with school districts and schools to deliver professional learning for educators and arts-integrated or theater-based instruction for students. Associate Professor Michelle Zoss nominated the institute for its 10-year community partnership with the college’s Departments of Middle and Secondary Education (MSE) and Early Childhood and Elementary Education (ECEE).

Their collaborative work provides future teachers with opportunities to experience drama teaching in their academic programs, which CEHD students can use in their own teaching careers after graduation. Current and former faculty members in MSE and ECEE also developed professional development courses for the institute’s teaching artists. The CEHD brings expertise in equity in teaching, content area knowledge and experience with teaching K-12 students and teachers into these professional development courses, which are held at the Alliance Theatre.

Project Access is a nonprofit organization that provides on-site health, education and employment services to families, children and seniors living in affordable and workforce housing communities. Clinical Assistant Professor Omer Ari nominated the project for its community partnership with the college’s Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.) in Human Learning and Development program.

Students enrolled in this program receive an interdisciplinary understanding of human learning and development from a variety of courses and from a semester-long internship. Project Access accounts for most virtual and in-person internship placements for B.I.S. students, who have gained experience in several areas, including language and literacy development support for young children, after-school tutoring, financial literacy skill development for young adults, career and college counseling for adolescents and wellness programs for family and community members.

The 2023 recipients were recognized at the college's Partnership Award Luncheon on Nov. 7.

“The Alliance Theatre Institute and Project Access have worked along with our faculty to provide experiences that expanded the perspectives and expertise of the students enrolled in our programs,” said DaShaunda Patterson, CEHD associate dean for faculty development and equity. “Through our partnerships with these organizations, our students are learning how to bring new approaches to supporting the variety and diversity of the stakeholders in the communities that they will eventually serve as professionals. We are grateful for the partnerships that allow us to support successful outcomes for our students and our communities.”

For more information about the college’s Partnership Award, visit https://education.gsu.edu/cehd-partnership-award.