Dr. Vivian Williamson Whitney, director of the Institute for Environmental Sciences Education and a grants research specialist at East Central University, has been selected to serve on an education advisory committee for the University of Hawaii.
Whitney will serve two years on the university's Center for Microbial Oceanography Research and Education Advisory Committee (C-MORE). The center is seeking critical advice from education experts and evaluators in order to develop a nationally recognized education program that meets the National Science Foundation's vision of Science Technology Center education programs.
The committee will help C-MORE meet its two education goals, said Barbara Bruno of C-MORE. The center aims to increase scientific literacy in microbial oceanography and provide state-of-the-art training to the next generation of microbial oceanographers, from undergrads through junior faculty members.
Whitney was certified this year as a research administrator by the Research Administrators Certification Council. She is a certified trainer or facilitator in total quality management, school development, site-based management, leadership development and family and individual counseling.
She also is an evaluator for the Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth System Science mentoring initiative for the Institute for Broadening Participation in Damariscotta, Maine.
Whitney holds a bachelor's degree in general studies-human development from the University of Texas-Dallas, a master's degree in African American studies/modern European studies from Southern Methodist University and a doctor of education degree in higher education administration and supervision from the University of Houston.
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