Zhan Shu, Ph.D.

Zhan Shu, nominated by Randy Penfield from the Educational Research Methodology department, earned a Ph.D. in Educational Research Methodology, specializing in educational measurement and psychometrics, from UNCG in 2010.

Since graduating from ERM, Dr. Shu has become a nationally recognized expert in testing and measurement, with a current position of Psychometrician in 2010 as an Associate Psychometrician. In 2013, he was promoted to the rank of Psychometrician, overseeing statistical and psychometric analyses associated with the National Assessment of Educational Progress assessment.

In addition to his highly accomplished work with ETS, Dr. Shu has also been an active researcher, with several published articles in prestigious academic journals, including Applied Psychological Measurement and Psychometrika, as well as numerous research presentations at the annual conferences of the National Council on Measurement in Education, the American Educational Research Association, and the Psychometric Society. with Educational Testing Service (ETS). At ETS, Dr. Shu provides psychometric expertise to large-scale assessment development, delivery, and scoring.

Patty Fagin, Ph.D.

Dr. Patty Fagin, nominated by Randy Penfield from the Educational Research Methodology department, earned a PhD in Curriculum and Teaching, which is most closely aligned with Teacher Education and Higher Education, specializing in curriculum and instruction, in 2001.

She has worked in K-12 education for nearly 40 years and has been committed to an exceptional career marked by countless contributions to schools and students in Missouri, North Carolina, and New Jersey. For the first 20 years of Dr. Fagin’s career, she served as a classroom teacher and coordinator of special education services across four different schools in Missouri. In 1998, she transitioned out of the classroom to assume leadership roles in K-12 education.

From 1998-2004, Dr. Fagin served as Executive Director of Guilford Day School, which is now known as Noble Academy. Following her role with Guilford Day School, she served a six-year term as Principal of Grades 7-12 of Villa Duchesne, an independent, Catholic girls’ school in St. Louis, Missouri. In this role, she led and supervised a faculty of 55 members, and implemented numerous innovations, including the use of data-driven decision making, data-based strategies for driving continuous improvement, and specialized technology programs to meet the growing emphasis of technology in student learning.

In 2010, Dr. Fagin was appointed Head of School of Stuart Country Day School, an independent, Catholic girls’ school in Princeton, New Jersey. Now in her fifth year in this position, Dr. Fagin has had a notable influence on Stuart Country Day School. She has brought the school out of an $8 million debt to be debt-free, assembled a new leadership team that has continued to strengthen the educational experiences of her students, and implemented a new Makerspace in her school to enhance the integration of creativity and technology into the learning experiences of student in the school.

Joseph P. Jordan, Ph.D.

Dr. Joseph P. Jordan, nominated by Craig Cashwell of the Counseling and Educational Development department, earned a master’s degree in Community Counseling from UNCG in 1999 before earning a PhD in Counseling and Counseling Education from UNCG in 2006.

For the past 7.5 years, Dr. Jordan has served as the Clinical Director for the North Carolina Physician’s Health Program, which oversees issues related to impairment of physicians in the state. Often, these impairments are due to mental health issues or addiction-related problems. As clinical director, he oversees all treatment protocols for physicians enrolled in NCPHP. He provides supervision and oversight to other clinicians who treat and monitor the progress of physicians. In February, Dr. Jordan’s title was changed to Executive Director with additional responsibilities.

Dr. Jordan has remained very civic-minded and given of his time and talents in many ways. Currently, he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the North Carolina State Bar Lawyer Assistance Program, of the Steering Committee on the Convocation on Aging, of the North Carolina State Bar Association, and of the Research Committee for the Federation of State Physician Health Programs, to name a few.

He holds credentials as a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist. Additionally, he holds credentials as a National Certified Counselor, Masters Addiction Counselor, and Certified Clinical Supervisor. Additionally, Dr. Jordan has a history of important service within the recovery community. He has served as Chair of the Consortium of Professional Recovery Programs, chair of the ad hoc Impaired Professionals Action Committee for Addiction Professionals of North Carolina, chair of the Business and Operations Committee of the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Certification Board, and served as Vice-President of the North Central Region of the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Certification Board.

Patricia Whitley Sickles

Patricia Whitley Sickles, nominated by Holt Wilson from the Teacher Education and Higher Education department, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from UNCG in 1965.

Mrs. Sickles has made significant contributions to the mathematics education community at UNCG, the Piedmont region, North Carolina, and beyond since her graduation from our university fifty years ago this year. With over 30 years of distinguished service to public education, Pat has taught mathematics in a number of K-12 settings. Her focus on secondary mathematics led to a variety of roles in public education, such as mathematics specialist, mathematics department chair, and Director of Grades 6-12 Mathematics for Durham Public Schools.

Additionally, she has served as a mathematics specialist and professional development consultant on a number of National Science Foundation and US Dept. of Education funded projects, an adjunct professor of mathematics education at UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University, a frequent nominee of awards for outstanding mathematics teaching, a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics & Science Teaching Nominee, and a recurring officer for the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

In addition to her contributions, Pat serves as a loyal member of the UNCG SOE Advisory Board and has established the Patricia Whitley and Barry Riddle Sickles Scholarship in Education for students seeking to become mathematics or science teachers.