Former Assistant Professor of Teacher Education HAZEL M. ANTHONY died on Oct. 31, 2019. She spent her career in education, focusing on home economics, and the education of home economics teachers and administration. She served as faculty at MSU from 1957-61, later retiring in 1986 as dean of the College of Home Economics at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
HARVEY F. CLARIZIO died on Dec. 22, 2020. Clarizio was a long-time school psychology faculty member at MSU, serving 33 years from 1966 to his retirement in 1999. He wrote or co-wrote more than 20 textbooks, and many articles on varying aspects of school psychology, including behavior disorders in children, depression and classroom discipline. He also served as a consultant in many capacities, including with the Michigan Department of Education and internationally with the Department of Defense Schools.
JO CODDE died on Feb. 19, 2020. Codde was a three-time graduate of MSU, earning a B.A. ’78, M.A. ’91 and Ph.D. ’97 (Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education), and joined the college faculty in 1997. In addition, Codde worked with the Confucius Institute to promote learning of Mandarin Chinese and Chinese culture to K-12 students and was a member of the Muslim Studies faculty. After retiring as professor emeritus in 2014, she continued as a consultant in MSU’s College of Education and, more recently, the College of Human Medicine where she worked on projects to improve the care of transgender patients. Codde was instrumental in the development and growth of educational technology programs in the U.S. and around the world, including in Algeria, Lebanon, Jordan and Pakistan.
Associate Professor WILLIAM “BILL” COLE died on Sept. 16, 2020. An MSU graduate, Cole joined the faculty in 1970 and spent the next 30 years of his career as a leader of mathematics education, particularly on curriculum and teacher education. In addition to his teaching, which included projects around the world, Cole co-authored a series of K-9 mathematics textbooks for Houghton Mifflin. He was a member of MSU’s Varsity “S” Club and the MSU Blue Line Club, where he served as president from 1992-93. He retired from MSU in 2000.
KENNETH L. HARDING, professor of educational administration, died on July 24, 2020. After earning his doctorate, Ph.D. ’66 (Guidance and Personnel Services), he joined the faculty in 1966. His work was centered on teacher certification questions and requirements. He later retired in 1990.
HOWARD HICKEY, professor and a former leader of the Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education program, died on Jan. 30, 2020. Hickey, Ph.D. ’68 (Higher Education Administration), began his career at MSU in 1969 in elementary education before assuming leadership of the HALE program in the 1970s and 1980s. He retired in 1993, and in 1995, was part of the first cohort to receive an MSU Crystal Apple Award, honoring those with outstanding careers in education. In addition, Hickey and his wife established the Howard W. Hickey and Gwen G. Callahan Scholarship to support undergraduates.
SUSAN MELNICK, assistant dean and associate professor emeritus, died on Jan. 1, 2021. A former high school teacher, Melnick held a number of leadership and outreach positions in the college, serving as assistant chairperson of the Department of Teacher Education, co-director of the Professional Development Schools Program, assistant dean for academic outreach programs and the inaugural director of the Master of Arts in Education (MAED) program. In addition, Melnick was active in two large, federally funded research centers: The Institute for Research on Teaching and the National Center for Research on Teacher Education (later Teacher Learning). Her service to the college, from 1980 to retirement in 2012, included collaborating with faculty to offer degree programs for educators in places such as France, Thailand and Switzerland and several other off-campus locations.
JANET HICKS RONK died on Oct. 29, 2019. Ronk served as a specialist for MSU’s teacher preparation program, where she assisted in placing, mentoring and evaluating student teachers, from 1978 until her retirement in 1994. Ronk earned degrees in child development from MSU, and served as a teacher at the MSU Child Development Laboratories. A lifelong member of the East Lansing community, Ronk was the author of “A History of the Red Cedar Neighborhood” (2010). In addition, Ronk and her husband established the Janet L. and David F. Ronk, Sr. Endowed Scholarship in Teacher Education in the college, supporting the education of future teachers.
JAMES “JIM” SNODDY died on Jan. 19, 2020. He joined the faculty in 1967 and remained for nearly 30 years, retiring as professor emeritus in 1996. Snoddy made contributions through teaching, research and various aspects of leadership, and was the co-author of “Stress in Childhood: An Intervention Model for Teachers and Other Professionals” (Teachers College Press, 1986).
Associate Professor Emeritus GEORGE SHERMAN died June 5, 2020. A former high school teacher in New Hampshire and Michigan, Sherman earned three degrees from MSU, including two from the College of Education: M.A. ’62 (Reading Instruction) and Ph.D. ’73 (Elementary Education). He joined the faculty in 1966 and was a leader in literacy and taught in master’s programs around the world, including in Japan, Germany and England. He retired in 1992.
PHOTO CREDITS: Courtesy of Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections (Anthony, Clarizio Cole, Harding, Hickey and Snoddy)
REMEMBERING DAVID COHEN
Read the memorial essay on renowned educational scholar and former MSU Professor David K. Cohen, who died in September 2020.