New Dean Puts Converse on the Move: Meet Dr. Lienne Medford

With an eye towards growth and positive impact on K-12 education across South Carolina and beyond, Converse’s new Dean of Education and Graduate Studies brings a wealth of experience and $717,000 in National Science Foundation (NSF) grant funds to support Converse students.

Dr. Lienne Medford joined Converse last summer from Clemson University, where she served as Associate Dean of the Graduate School and taught for sixteen years. Dr. Medford was named Outstanding Professor for 2016-2017 by the National Association of Professors of Middle Level Education and has been awarded more than $2 million in grants from the NSF. She currently serves as national accreditation coordinator for the Association for Middle Level Education and as a member of the Board of Visitors for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Dr. Medford was named Outstanding Professor for 2016-2017 by the National Association of Professors of Middle Level Education and has been awarded more than $2 million in grants from the NSF.

Medford’s NSF funding via the Noyce Teacher Scholarship program will provide financial and professional development support for students studying STEM fields who plan to teach following graduation. In exchange for their commitment to teach for two years in a South Carolina middle or secondary math or science classroom, Noyce Scholars receive a $13,000 scholarship, a year-long mentorship from a public school teacher in their content area, special workshops designed for STEM candidates, and opportunities to apply for travel funding to STEM conferences and for professional development funds for their classroom.

The first cohort of Converse Noyce Scholars began this fall. Current rising juniors and seniors and MAT students are eligible, as well as qualifying transfer students and new MAT applicants.

Originally published in The Converse Magazine.