Gift from Rep. Sheila Klinker funds new College of Education initiatives and Transition to Teaching licensure program

A major gift from Indiana State Representative Sheila Klinker will establish two new initiatives and provide funding for an existing licensure program in the College of Education at Purdue University.

The generous gift will establish the Representative Sheila Klinker Speaker Series on Civic Engagement in the James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship and the Representative Sheila Klinker Graduate Scholarship in Leadership Development in the College of Education Educational Leadership graduate program.

“This exciting and generous gift from Rep. Sheila Klinker establishing the Representative Sheila Klinker Speaker Series on Civic Engagement couldn’t be more timely,” said Dr. Phillip VanFossen, Director and James F. Ackerman Distinguished Professor of Social Studies Education in the College of Education at Purdue University. “It represents her lifelong commitment to service, and to the greater good.”

Dr. VanFossen explained that the gift will allow the Ackerman Center to continue to provide compelling, thought-provoking programming that addresses the key civic participation and engagement issues currently facing the nation.

Dr. James Greenan, Chair and Professor of the Career and Technical Education program in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in Purdue’s College of Education, said that Rep. Klinker’s gift will have a significant impact in the preparation of future leaders in the field.

“The Representative Sheila Klinker Graduate Scholarship in Leadership Development will support practicing educators in the Career and Technical Education, Leadership Development Graduate Program,” said Dr. Greenan. “It will support local, regional, and state program improvement and excellence initiatives. Additionally, the Scholarship will support effective professional development activities designed to enhance the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of CTE educators.

Rep. Klinker’s gift will also fund current initiatives in the Transition to Teaching Program in the College of Education. The Transition to Teaching Program prepares students with subject matter expertise to develop into effective teachers while providing a pathway for initial licensure in their content area in Indiana.

State Representative Sheila Klinker was first elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 1982 to represent Indiana House District 27 (serving parts of both Lafayette and West Lafayette).

A proud Boilermaker, Rep. Klinker received her bachelor’s degree in education and two master’s degrees, one in elementary education and one in administration and supervision, from Purdue University. She is a former teacher who taught for more than 34 years in the Lafayette School Corporation and worked as the Outreach Liaison for the Purdue School of Education for 15 years.

Learn more about Representative Sheila Klinker: https://indianahousedemocrats.org/members/sheila-klinker/full.

Learn more about the James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship.

Learn more about the Purdue College of Education graduate program in Educational Leadership.