BLACKSBURG, Va., Aug. 29, 2006 – Thomas E. Gatewood of Hamilton, Va., associate professor of secondary education in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, was conferred with the title, “associate professor emeritus” by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors during the board’s quarterly meeting August 28.
The title of emeritus may be conferred on retired professors and associate professors, administrative officers, librarians, and exceptional staff members who have given exemplary service to the university and who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.
A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1980, Gatewood changed the face of education for middle school children in the United States through his conceptualization of “the middle school philosophy” of teaching and learning. He served as a founding member, president, and board member of the National Middle School Association, a professional group that currently has membership of more than 30,000 educators.
He served as editor of the journal of the National Middle School Association, The Middle School Journal, and served as executive director of the Virginia Middle School Association. He served as director of education programs at Virginia Tech’s Northern Virginia Center for 1996 to 2003. There, he initiated an innovative teacher preparation program for mathematics and science teaching in the National Capital Region that has attracted many accomplished scientists and mathematicians into the teaching profession.
Gatewood received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University, and an Ed.D. from the University of Indiana.
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