Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

University of South Carolina Assistant Professor Dr. Randa Dunlap was presented the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators Dissertation award at the annual National Conference 2020.  
NAECTE is a National and International organization from across the United States and Countries around the globe. Early Childhood Educators are joined together by common interest in Early Childhood Education teacher education. The NAECTE/Gryphon Outstanding Dissertation Award is presented to nominees that have shown meritorious leadership and professionalism. A highly ranked dissertation will accurately convey to the reader a clear understanding of the nominee’s accomplishments and contributions to teacher education.  Besides the strength in the Vita and letters of support there must be evidence that the dissertation was well planned and represents considerable reflection.  
Dr. Dunlap’s subject was “Determining if Classroom Pets as part of an Empathy-Based Intervention Affect Public Elementary Students’ Empathy.”  
Dunlap acknowledged the Clemmer College of Education Accredited Early Childhood Doctoral Curriculum for its high principles and Scholarly Standards. Dunlap also gave credit to her dissertation Chair, Dr. Amy Malkus and committee, Dr. Pam Evanshen, and Dr. Ed Dwyer for their leadership by example and encouragement to strive for excellence. Dr. Dunlap currently teaches classes at USCA in Undergraduate Early Childhood.  
Dr. Dunlap is a native of Elizabethton and maintains a home here. Dunlap was educated in the Carter County School District. Master’s Degree and Doctorate Degree in Early Childhood Education were earned at East Tennessee State University, Johnson City.