College of Education doctoral student Ford notches new distinction for research exploits

Maegan Grace Ford of Evergreen, Alabama—a doctoral student in the 2018 Administration of Elementary and Secondary Education Cohort in Auburn’s College of Education—has been invited to be a scholar in the competitive 2021 David L. Clark National Graduate Research Seminar in Educational Administration and Policy. 

The Clark Seminar is a highly regarded graduate student seminar held each year at the American Educational Research Association’s annual conference. The seminar occurs in collaboration with the University Council for Educational Administration, or UCEA. The opportunity is designed to facilitate support for scholars’ research through mentoring, networking and panel discussions with some of the top researchers in the field.

Ford’s research focuses on, “Relationships among racialized stressors, self-care, and leader self-efficacy for Black school leaders.” Her research committee is co-chaired by Auburn professors Lisa Kensler and Andrew Pendola.

The honor of becoming a Clark Scholar follows Ford’s selection as a 2019-20 UCEA Jackson Scholar. The Jackson Scholars Network also provided her with experiences of networking, mentoring and professional development.

Ford has advice to those who are contemplating whether to apply for or to enroll in Auburn University’s Graduate College of Education. 

“When I chose to continue my education at Auburn University, it was for its reputation of academic rigor,” she said. “I quickly discovered that Auburn would prepare me academically, but I could not have predicted the amount of self-growth and support I would gain as well. The team of professors in the College of Education are personable and create a family atmosphere that uniquely distinguishes Auburn and its desire to grow individuals in competence, commitment and reflectiveness.”

Professionally, Ford serves as the Secondary Curriculum coordinator for Conecuh County, Alabama, Schools. Her favorite responsibilities, however, are being mom to Kingston, age 8, and Phoenix-Harper, age 5, and wife to her husband, Avery.

Submitted by: George Littleton