Prominent Professor Of Educational Leadership Receives CWU Alumni Award

October 19, 2004

Contact: Tess McShane (509-963-1487/ e-mail: mcshanet@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Dr. William Kritsonis, a professor in the department of educational leadership and counseling at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas, received the College of Education and Professional Studies (CEPS) Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Central Washington University Alumni Association during the annual homecoming banquet and awards ceremony on Friday, Oct. 15.

The annual award is made to alumni of the CEPS who have attained outstanding success and made significant contributions to their profession and the community.

"It's a humbling experience to receive this award, especially since CWU is known as one of the top teaching schools in the country," said Kritsonis, "I see it as a sort of capstone in my career because what I learned at Central was the foundation I've built on to arrive where I am now."

Kritsonis earned his bachelor's degree in social sciences and education at CWU in 1969. He went on to earn a master's degree in education from Seattle Pacific University in 1971 and his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 1976. He also served as a visiting scholar at Columbia University Teacher's College in 1981.

Kritsonis has earned tenure at the highest rank as a professor at two major universities. He began his career as a teacher and has served throughout the field of education as a school principal, superintendent of schools, director of field experiences and student teaching, guest professor, author, and editor-in-chief and publisher of educational journals.

He is an author or co-author of more than 100 articles in professional journals and several textbooks including his popular book "School Discipline: The Art of Survival" currently scheduled for its fourth edition and "William Kritsonis, Ph.D. on Schooling" which is used in many colleges and universities across the nation.

Kritsonis teaches in the newly established Ph.D. doctoral program in Educational Leadership at Prairie View A&M University (part of the Texas A&M University system.) He and his wife, Dr. Mary Alice Kritsonis, live in Houston and have two daughters, Alicia and Amanda.