Dr. Crandall to receive a 2018 Divergent Award for Excellence.
...because of [Bryan's] dedication to urban education, [he] has formed invaluable partnerships that did not exist before all of his efforts.
— — Margaret Hiller, executive director of the Bridgeport Public Education Fund
Bryan Ripley Crandall,PhD, director of the Connecticut Writing Project (CWP) Fairfield and assistant professor in the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions (GSEAP) has been named a 2018 Divergent Award for Excellence recipient by the Initiative for 21st Century Literacies Research. Crandall, who was recognized locally with the Elizabeth M. Pfriem Inspiration Award last spring, will be honored at Oklahoma State University in February. The award is given to innovative researchers who diverge from traditional pedagogies and research methodologies to embrace the spirit of following a road less traveled. It is an award that recognizes the lasting contributions of educators and scholars who have dedicated their careers to the theoretical and practical study of 21st century literacies.
"Bryan has been a leader and an inspiration for all of us in GSEAP," said Bob Hannafin, PhD, dean of the GSEAP. "He is a tireless advocate for all children, but especially underprivileged kids."
In 2014-2015, Crandall and a team of six local educators collaborated to provide high school students with opportunities to compose digitally about their local communities. Funded through the John Legend Show Me Campaign, MacArthur Foundation, and , the LRNG Innovation Award project culminated at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ with a “Writing Our Lives-Digital Ubuntu” conference with author Matt de la Peña as a keynote. That same year, Crandall also designed several summer Young Adult Literacy Labs to provide writing workshops in a wide variety of genres and themes. The workshops, which include Ubuntu Academy, a literacy lab for newly arrived refugees and immigrant youth, and Project Citizen, a workshop on political writing, work in tandem with teachers participating in a National Writing Project summer institute.
Margaret Hiller, executive director of the Bridgeport Public Education Fund said, “Dr. Crandall has done so much to form robust partnerships with Bridgeport Public Schools. He continues to give students the opportunity to experience learning on a college campus at Fairfield, and because of his dedication to urban education, has formed invaluable partnerships that did not exist before all of his efforts."
Crandall’s dedication to students and teachers from many backgrounds is at the heart of the literacy award.
