Neal Honored with 2024 Vulcan Award
Post Published On:Dr. Gale Neal, the Division of Education’s Graduate Program Director, received the 2024 Vulcan Teaching Excellence Award during the undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 4.
She was honored with the distinguished award for her strong academic skills in the classroom and her leadership and support in the other areas of campus life.
“I can attest to her exceptional qualities as an educator, a mentor to her students, an active member of the campus community, and a recognized expert in teacher leadership in Georgia,” Dr. Susan Lynn, Chair for the Division of Education, said. “She is most deserving of the Vulcan Award.”
Neal has demonstrated her commitment to the excellence of the Division of Education throughout her eight years at Thomas University. She oversees more degree programs with more students and adjunct faculty than any other division on campus
In addition to being the graduate program director, Neal is an assistant professor and the director of the Teacher Leadership program.
She has been instrumental in inspiring students through the courses and programs she developed and teaches. She developed the Orientation course for Graduate Programs, Teacher Leadership Residency courses, Math Curriculum Development course for the Undergraduate Teacher Education Program, and Math Curriculum Development course for the Master of Arts in Teaching Program.
The programs have spun success. The Teacher Leadership program’s pass rate on the Georgia certification exam is higher than the state average, with many of the comparable institutions being large public institutions.
“Dr. Neal is not only a gifted instructor but also demonstrates a deep commitment to student success,” Lynn said. “In the classroom she exhibits a rare ability to engage students at all levels, fostering a dynamic and interactive learning environment.”
