Professor in Elementary Education Receives Professional Service Award

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Professor Vicki Collet, right, receiving the Albert J. Mazurkiewicz Special Services Award.

The Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers named Vicki Collet as the 2023 recipient of the Albert J. Mazurkiewicz Special Services Award, recognizing special service and significant contributions to the association. The award was presented at the annual conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in November. 

Collet, a professor of elementary education in the College of Education and Health Professions, earned the award for service to the organization, including serving on the board of directors, editing the membership newsletter, serving as a reviewer for the organization's journal and conference, and chairing and serving in divisions and special interest groups. The award recognizes "tireless service to the organization over the years," said Robin Johnson, president of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers.

"ALER has been an important professional home for me since I joined the association during my doctoral studies," Collet said. "It's also the place where I encourage literacy doctoral students to present their initial research. The group is welcoming and supportive and offers opportunities to learn from and with high-profile researchers."

In addition to her service to the organization, Collet and her doctoral students have published multiple articles in the association's top-tier journal, Literacy Research and Instruction, with Collet's 2012 publication of "The Gradual Increase of Responsibility Model: Coaching for Teacher Change" continuing to be one of the journal's most-cited papers.

Prior to joining the U of A faculty in 2012, Collet worked in many roles as a literacy professional, including classroom teacher, literacy interventionist and coach, and district literacy coordinator. Currently, Collet teaches doctoral courses in literacy and serves as associate director of the Northwest Arkansas Writing Project in addition to teaching and serving as student-teaching liaison within the Childhood Education Program.