Ruth Patrick Director President of National Association

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AIKEN, SC (11/28/2018) Dr. Gary Senn, director of the University of South Carolina Aiken Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, is now the president of the National Association of Professors of Middle Level Education.

"I was honored to be elected as president and look forward to serving my colleagues through this national venue," Senn said.

NAPOMLE assists higher education faculty involved with middle level education and works to enhance the preparation of middle level educators.

"Middle school students are in a vital stage of human development, and they require special consideration in their educational experiences," Senn said.

"As a leader in working with this special age group, the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center houses the Center of Excellence in Middle-level Interdisciplinary Strategies for Teaching. My work as director of CE-MIST led me to a relationship with NAPOMLE."

According to its website, the organization provides a professional network to enhance the exchange of information and ideas, as well as, to encourage the discussion of topics related to the preparation of middle level educators; contributes to the development of an expanded middle level research base, and provide additional means for sharing and disseminating current research and ideas among those interested in middle level education; serves actively as advocates for the middle school movement, especially in terms of promoting middle level concepts among various publics commonly dealt with in the preparation of middle level educators; and shares in the advocacy for the middle school movement by supporting the stated purposes and goals of the Association for Middle Level Education.

"I have been impressed with the organization and have benefitted greatly from networking with the national leaders of the middle school movement," the newly elected president said.

"There were opportunities to give back to the organization that has served me and many other faculty so well, so I undertook the challenge," Senn added.

He has been part of NAPOMLE since 2009. In 2014, he was elected as the director of the Southern Region of NAPOMLE. In 2016, he was president-elect. The terms of service are two years as president-elect, two years as president and the two years as past president. During these terms of service, he is part of the executive council of NAPOMLE.

He began his two-year term as president at the conclusion of the recent annual meeting. In this role, Senn is responsible for communicating with the membership and representing the organization in NAPOMLE's relationship with various other organizations. He is also responsible for organizing and managing the annual meeting of the association. His leadership responsibilities include working with those responsible for the website; the newsletter; and the journal, Current Issues in Middle Level Education.