The West Virginia University College of Education and Human Services will recognize alumni and other individuals who have contributed to the College’s mission during its 2013 Scholars’ Honors/Hall of Fame Reception. The event will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Grand Hall of the Erickson Alumni Center.

Four people, selected by the College’s visiting committee, will be honored at the event.

“By recognizing these well-respected individuals, we emphasize the value we place on a strong work ethic, intelligence, creativity, motivation and achievement,” said Carolyn Atkins, chair of the selection committee.

“These four honorees have consistently supported the College’s vision and service,” said Lynne Schrum, dean of the College, “and are each distinguished in their chosen profession in myriad ways: through the development of new programs, procedures, designs and models; through teaching, writing, research, service; through skillful management; and other outstanding performances.”

This year’s four Hall of Fame awardees are:

• William Bingman of Frostburg, Md.

Bingman received his master’s degree (1967) in elementary education and a doctorate of education (1972) in curriculum and instruction from the College. Bingman taught more than 38 years at Frostburg State University in the Department of Educational Professions. He founded Frostburg State’s Children’s Literature Center to enhance study and dissemination of children’s literature.

Under his guidance, the Children’s Literature Festival was started and has operated for 33 years. The festival is one of the largest on the East Coast and provides librarians, educators, students and other literacy advocates the opportunity to experience first-hand interaction with celebrated authors, illustrators and storytellers. Additionally, he oversaw the creation of an exchange program with Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Ireland.

Bingman, now faculty emeritus at Frostburg State, remains active in academia, continuously promoting literacy and exposure to quality literature. In addition to the Hall of Fame honor, Bingman has been chosen as the 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient.

• Helen Harkness of Dallas, Texas

Harkness received her bachelor’s degree (1950) in speech pathology and audiology and a master’s degree (1953) in English during her time at WVU. She completed her doctorate of philosophy (1976) at North Texas University.

She is a consultant, researcher, experienced speaker, teacher, writer and pioneer in the development and implementation of career management programs. Her multidimensional career includes being a successful entrepreneur, a former academic dean/provost, a college professor, director of continuing education and a public school teacher.

Her published work includes “Best Jobs for the Future (1995),” “The Career Chase: Taking Creative Control in a Chaotic Age (1997),” “Don’t Stop the Career Clock: Rejecting the Myths of Aging for a New Way to Work in the 21st Century (1999)” and “Capitalizing on Career Chaos: Bringing Creativity and Purpose to You Work and Life (2005).” She is currently working on a book titled “Moving from Mindless Myths to Meaning and Money at Midlife.”

• Kimberly Horn of Washington, D.C.

Horn received her master’s degree (1993) from WVU and her doctorate of education (1997) from the College. She is nationally recognized for studies focusing on teen smoking cessation. Horn is associate dean of research for the School of Public Health and Health Services at George Washington University.

She previously worked and taught at WVU and conducted population health research in the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, where she was director of the Evaluation Oversight and Coordinating Unit, an oversight body for the West Virginia Bureau of Public Health’s State Tobacco Prevention Program. Horn has been recognized for her dedication to public health in the past by receiving the Dean’s Award for Research Excellence from the WVU School of Medicine in 2005, as well as being named the second most cited author in the “Journal of School Nursing” in 2009.

• Ranjit Majumder of Morgantown

After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a doctorate of philosophy in psychology, Majumder moved to Morgantown to teach and conduct research. In 1969, he headed a project that would eventually become the International Center for Disability Information in the College.

Majumder contributed to the establishment of the Job Accommodation Network, which, since 1983, has been a national technical assistance center that facilitates the employment and retention of workers with disabilities through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. Majumder served as the director of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. In that role, he also had memorandums of understanding with National University of Columbia, University of St. Petersburg and University of Calcutta.

At the College, Majumder taught classes and conducted research for more than 35 years. He is professor emeritus in the Department of Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling and Counseling Psychology. He has served as a Rotary district governor, led several international trips and assisted his wife, Indira, on a rubella immunization project in India. Recently, they established the Drs. Ranjit and Indira Majumder Education Policy Research Endowment Award through the WVU Foundation to benefit students researching West Virginia education policy and practice.

The Hall of Fame and Distinguished Alumnus program was established in 2004 and has inducted 34 Hall of Fame members with seven receiving Distinguished Alumnus Awards. Recipients receive a plaque and have their name added to the College’s Wall of Recognition in Allen Hall at WVU: http://cehs.wvu.edu/donate/recognition-wall.

-WVU-

cz/08/28/13

CONTACT: Christie Zachary, College of Education and Human Services
304.293.0224; Christie.Zachary@mail.wvu.edu

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