First Nations student earns Doctorate from U of S College of Education
Posted December 16, 1997
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, October 24, 1997
First Nations student earns Doctorate from U of S College of Education
SASKATOON -- For the first time in the 70-year history of the
University of Saskatchewan's College of Education, a First Nations student
will be awarded a doctoral degree tomorrow.
Frances Luther will receive her PhD in Educational Administration
during U of S convocation ceremonies in Saskatoon Saturday.
Luther's advisor Dr. Patrick Renihan says the event marks a major
step forward both for the college and for First Nations educational leadership.
"It's an important milestone for our advanced graduate programs," says
Renihan, head of the college's Department of Educational Administration.
"While we've had First Nations students in our masters programs over
the years, Frances is the first aboriginal student to complete the doctoral
program we've been offering for the past decade," Renihan says.
"It's a coming-of-age in terms of equity and providing service to an
increasingly relevant part of our community -- and it's another step in
meeting the First Nations community's significant need to further develop
its own educational leadership," he says.
Luther, raised in rural southern Saskatchewan, earned a Bachelor of
Education (with distinction) from the University of Regina in 1979 and a
Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Alberta in
1989. In the early 1980s she taught in schools in the province and worked
for the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College at the U of R. In the
late-80s she was acting principal for the Dene Tha Education Authority in
Chateh, Alberta. In the early 1990s Luther was an instructional resources
consultant with Saskatchewan's department of education. Currently, she is
Interim Director of the Master of Education and Professional Development
Programs at the University of Wisconsin (La Crosse).
To complete her doctorate, Luther researched and wrote a dissertation
on the experiences and perceptions of First Nations women
teachers-in-training at the U of S regarding technology. Her study found
that the pre-service teachers believe aboriginal women educators need
technological training in order to exercise leadership, but they face
barriers such as lack of access and exposure to technology, lack of a good
self-image, lack of time, lack of role models, men's intimidation, and
men's negative images of women's technological aptitude. Luther concludes
that First Nations teacher preparation programs, band schools, politicians
and others should increase and improve aboriginal women's access to technology.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Dr. Patrick Renihan, Head, Dep't of Educational Administration
Tel: (306) 966-7620
NOTE: NEWS MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THIS STORY AT THE U
OF S CONVOCATION EXERCISES. FRAN LUTHER WILL BE PRESENT TO RECEIVE HER
DEGREE.
* 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Sat., Oct. 25, 1997. Centennial Auditorium, Saskatoon.
