Faculty Member Receives Publication Award from NASPA

University of Pittsburgh School of Education faculty member Darris Means has received the Outstanding Publication Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) for a co-edited 2020 book, “Case Studies for Student Development Theory: Advancing Social Justice and Inclusion in Higher Education.”

A team of five scholars, including Means, co-edited the book. A team of five scholars co-edited the book. In addition to Means, the co-editors are Jason C. Garvey (University of Vermont), Jessica C. Harris (University of California Los Angeles), Rosemary J. Perez (University of Michigan), and Christa J. Porter (Kent State University). The co-editors were a part of the 2017 Emerging Scholars Program for the American College Personnel Association (ACPA): College Student Educators International. Means describes the book as a team effort that also involved more than 70 others who contributed to the case studies.

“We came up with the idea to write a book that would contribute to the field of student development and be helpful to practitioners, students, and faculty alike,” says Means. “The book explores the intersection of student development theory and social justice.”

The book consists of 12 sections of case studies organized by topic. Means edited the sections on spirituality and religion and on social class. The case studies on spirituality and religion, he said, tie to his decade of research on queer Black men in higher education and spirituality.

“Our goal for the book is to help people learn and then put their learning into practice in higher education,” says Means.

The book includes guided questions for students, early-career professionals, and faculty members to reflect on their practice.

“Something that inspires me in the School of Education and more broadly is how can we collectively advance equity and justice in education,” says Means.

Means will be honored at a virtual awards ceremony on March 19.

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The Pitt School of Education’s Higher Education programs are currently accepting applications. Apply here.

The Outstanding Publication Award is granted by NASPA’s Faculty Council and Faculty Assembly. Learn more about NASPA.