Columbia Teachers College President to Speak at Hale Series

Westfield resident Dr. Susan Fuhrman, the president of Teachers College, Columbia University, will be the initial speaker in the 8th annual Anne and Lee Hale Speaker Series hosted by the Friends of Westfield Memorial Library.

The talk is slated for Wednesday, March 25, at 7 p.m. at the library, 550 East Broad St.

Fuhrman, the immediate past president of the National Academy of Education, will provide an expert’s views on such topics as teacher evaluation, higher education, universal pre-kindergarten, Common Core and community colleges.

A graduate of Northwestern University where she received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history, Fuhrman was awarded her Ph.D. in political science and education from Teachers College and Columbia University. Her work has focused on enhancing quality of education research, as well as accountability in education, standards-based reform and intergovernmental relationships. Among her books is “The State of Education Policy Research”, which she coauthored with David Cohen and Fritz Mosher.

Fuhrman is also the founding director and chair of the management committee of the Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE), as well as a member of the board of directors of the Hawn Foundation and a trustee of the Committee on Economic Development. She previously served as dean of the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania, where she also was the George and Diane Weiss Professor of Education. From 1986 to 1992, she was a member of the Westfield Board of Education.

The Hale Series was established in memory of Anne Hale, an active community member and library patron who died in 2007. The series was renamed in 2013 after the passing of her husband, Lee Hale, who was instrumental in its establishment and growth. Financial support comes from the Thomas Glasser Foundation and The Anne and Lee Hale Fund.

The Fuhrman talk is open to the public, but pre-registration is required at the Westfield Memorial Library website (Upcoming Adult Programs) or by calling 909-789-4090, ext. 0.

(Article and photo contribution of Tina Lesher)