Rodney Ogawa, professor of education at UC Santa Cruz, has been named winner of one of the most prestigious awards in the field of education research.
Ogawa is the 2010 winner of the Roald F. Campbell award for lifetime achievement by the University Council for Educational Administration.
It is "probably the most prestigious award we give in our field,” said Alan Shoho, UCEA president. “Past winners are all considered giants in the field."
Ogawa will receive the award next month when the UCEA holds its convention in New Orleans.
Ogawa is a former secondary teacher who taught at UC Riverside before joining UC Santa Cruz in 2002. He is a previous chair of UCSC's education department.
"I have to admit that it's rewarding to be recognized by my peers," he said.
The University Council for Educational Administration is a consortium of higher education institutions committed to advancing the preparation and practice of educational leaders for the benefit of schools and children.
Ogawa was selected based on three criteria: longtime distinguished service as a teacher and researcher in the field of educational administration; superior contributions to the field's body of knowledge; and recognized leadership efforts to improve the field, especially the preparation of educational administrators and/or professors of educational administration.
Shoho said he considers Ogawa one of his mentors, in no small part because both are Japanese American in a field with few Asians. "He is a great role model for everyone," Shoho said. "He practices what he preaches."
Ogawa said he had been "fortunate to have worked with many wonderful people, including mentors, colleagues, students, and staff members, who generously shared their knowledge, time, and effort. I owe all of them my deepest gratitude," Ogawa said.
