The honors society named after one of the state’s greatest educators and the West Virginia University College of Education and Human Services’ first dean, Jasper N. Deahl, selected its first recipients for the award this month.

Adam Cantley, M.A. 2003, B.A. 2003, of Newark, Del., and Billie Friedland, Ed.D. 1998, of Milford, Del., were named members of the Jasper N. Deahl Honors Society

Cantley is currently the assistant director at University of Delaware’s University Student Centers. He is responsible for the Fraternity and Sorority Life program, overseeing 47 organizations, five governing councils and approximately 3,700 undergraduate students. He also facilitates CAMPUSPEAK, a national provider of educational speakers and motivation programs. In May 2013, Cantley was awarded facilitator of the year for his work with students. That same year, he was recognized as the Outstanding Campus Fraternity and Sorority Advisor by the Phi Sigma Sigma National Sorority. He is currently a member of the Northeast Greek Leadership Association Board of Directors and volunteers for his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon. Cantley is the first WVU alumnus to serve as the National President of the Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity. He is currently serving as a member of the Board of Trustees and is a member of the College of Education and Human Services Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Friedland is a retired associate professor of special education teacher preparation at Delaware State University, where she taught both graduate and undergraduate courses in curriculum for elementary and secondary special education. In addition to teaching, she served as department chair from 2007 to 2010 and was president of the Delaware Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Previous to coming to Delaware State University, she spent three years at Eastern Illinois University teaching vocational and career development for individuals with special learning needs. She holds active professional memberships in the Council for Exceptional Children, the American Council on Rural Special Education and the national educational fraternities, Phi Delta Kappa and Kappa Delta Pi. While completing her doctoral work at WVU, she coordinated and supervised grant funded activities to develop transition teams in counties across the state of West Virginia, and prepared regular education teachers earning their M.A. in Special Education for inclusion of students with specific learning disabilities in their classrooms.

The namesake of the award, Jasper Newton Deahl (1859-1942), taught in rural schools and was principal at West Liberty Normal School. He earned both a master’s degree and the doctor of philosophy at Teachers College, Columbia University. In 1901, he started his career at WVU as professor of pedagogy and for many years was the only fulltime member of the department. From 1927 to 1930 he served as the first dean of the newly formed College of Education. He was responsible for initiating new WVU education programs and courses including student teaching and founded University High School as a laboratory school for preparing teachers. He served on the first West Virginia State Board of Education and upon his retirement at the age of 74 was hailed by his colleagues as one of West Virginia’s greatest educators.

“Giving Forward in Support of Education” is the mission of the College’s Alumni Association and those chosen exemplify those efforts through career achievement and or community service and or loyalty to WVU.

-WVU-

dt/02/27/14

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

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