Contact Info

Melissa Awenowicz

Dr. Melissa Awenowicz, the Assistant Dean for Assessment and Accreditation, joined the College of Education with experiences as a faculty member in a number of institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and South Carolina and later as chair of teacher education.  After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in English and an MAT in Secondary English, Dr. Awenowicz taught middle and high school English for 18 years prior to earning her doctorate in Language, Literacy, and Culture and shifting her focus to educating pre-service teachers.  Her specializations include assessment and accreditation, having been involved with SPA and CAEP [NCATE] accreditation as a reviewer since 2010, literacy, and secondary instruction.  Her teaching and scholarly interests include examining how pre-service teachers form their identity as professionals, particularly in light of their cultural models; teaching reading and literacy using critical thinking, examining cultural models in text; and creating cultures of accountability through assessment and continuous improvement.