Walden University is recognizing three of its long-standing faculty members for their important contributions to Walden and higher education by awarding them emeritus status. Dr. Steve Canipe, Dr. Sigrin Newell and Dr. Alan Seidman have each demonstrated continuous and meritorious service to the university during their decades-long tenure. They join Dr. Iris Yob, who previously was named professor emerita, with this esteemed distinction.
Walden has more than 2,800 faculty members who are scholars, researchers and distinguished leaders selected for their academic and industry credentials as well as for their teaching abilities. With almost 90% holding at least one doctoral degree, they have a broad range of experiential and cultural backgrounds and excel at integrating their expertise into the classroom.
“Our faculty are the foundation of our university. It has been an honor and privilege working with Drs. Canipe, Newell and Seidman, whose unwavering commitment to Walden and the success of their students will endure,” said Jonathan Kaplan, president of Walden University.
Dr. Steve Canipe joined Walden in 2002, initially teaching all 10 of the classes multiple times in the Integrating Technology in the Classroom specialization of the MS in Education (MSEd) program in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership. In 2005, he began the first of the MSEd assessment programs and served on the university-wide Assessment Committee. He has served as the program director of the Science, Mathematics and Instructional Design and Technology specializations in the master’s program in the Riley College of Education and Leadership. He was also the director of the bachelor’s programs in Instructional Design and Technology and Educational Studies. In addition, Dr. Canipe was an active participant in the development of new courses. More recently, he turned his attention to doctoral-level scholarship, providing faculty training and recruitment for the EdD and PhD programs. His passion for faculty development inspired him to conduct a series of ongoing “Coffee With Steve” professional development trainings. Dr. Canipe earned his BS from the Appalachian State University, an MS from Michigan State University and his EdD from Duke University.
Since joining Walden in 1993, Dr. Sigrin Newell has mentored 69 students through their dissertations, including serving as chair on 33 successful dissertations and as a dissertation committee member for the remaining 36. Over the past 22 years, Dr. Newell has presented five plenary sessions, and designed and delivered classes for every residency and summer session that she attended. Her advocacy for her students is matched by her care and concern for her fellow faculty members. In addition to mentoring new faculty, she has designed and delivered workshops for faculty about how to mentor students conducting qualitative research. As an instructor, she was often called upon to revise courses. Dr. Newell designed, taught and eventually revised the first qualitative research course taught in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership. Building on her passion for assessment, Dr. Newell was a member of the committee that crafted the first rubric for qualitative dissertations and then conducted workshops that taught faculty how to use them. She earned her BA from Antioch College, her MEd from The College of Saint Rose and her PhD from the State University of New York at Albany.
Dr. Alan Seidman joined Walden in 2004 as a faculty member with The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership and became the specialization coordinator (General and Self-Designed) for the PhD in Education in 2010. During his time at Walden, Dr. Seidman has contributed to student growth and development and has worked closely with faculty to help train them to provide students with the best possible learning experiences. He was the 2012 recipient of the Walden University Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership Extraordinary Faculty Award as a result of his students’ nomination, which cited his ability to facilitate learning through open and honest communication. He also received the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. Dr. Seidman has served on several university committees over the years and hosted a roundtable presentation and numerous breakout sessions at Walden’s National Faculty Meeting. He has also published extensively on issues associated with retention and student success. Dr. Seidman earned his BA and MA from Glassboro State College and his EdD from Syracuse University.
Their official title “emeritus” or “emerita” will be bestowed upon them during the university’s 57th Commencement Ceremony on January 7, 2017, in Orlando, Florida.