Drs. Bongiovanni and Vogel Receive Thomas Mulkeen Award for Doctoral Research
February 28, 2025
Dr. Valentina Bongiovanni and Dr. Haley Vogel have been named this year’s recipients of the Thomas Mulkeen Award. Presented annually by the Silverfield College of Education and Human Services, the award recognizes outstanding doctoral dissertations that exemplify practice-centered inquiry. Recipients are selected based on the clarity and significance of their research questions, the depth of their literature review, the methodological rigor of their approach, the thoroughness of their data analysis, and the clarity of their discussion on the study’s impact and relevance. The award, which will be presented later this semester at the SCOEHS Spring Awards Convocation, honors the legacy of Thomas A. Mulkeen, a distinguished professor at Fordham University and a key consultant in shaping the 成人AV视频 EdD program in Educational Leadership. His advocacy for practice-centered inquiry continues to inspire doctoral research within the program. To commemorate his contributions, faculty established the Thomas Mulkeen Award to recognize the dissertation that best embodies this approach each year.
成人AV视频 the Awardees
Dr. Valentina Bongiovanni is a postdoctoral associate at NEFSTEM within SCOEHS and serves as the STEM Toolkit Program Manager. This early childhood initiative, supported by Kids Hope Alliance, promotes at-home family STEM learning in collaboration with several Jacksonville-area schools. With a background in communications, digital learning, and international and multicultural education, Dr. Bongiovanni helps design STEM Toolkits and structure the program to foster informal learning spaces, strengthen community connections, and encourage collaboration between educators, parents, and children. Her dissertation, Exploring Parental Engagement in a Family STEM Program Leveraging Social Media Spaces, employs a mixed-methods approach to examine how and why parents engage in the program. By analyzing parental roles, actions, values, and peer interactions, her research highlights the impact of social media in fostering engagement. Findings suggest that closed social media groups, such as those used in the STEM Toolkit Program, can create informal learning environments that offer families greater autonomy in how they participate, ultimately strengthening parent-to-parent relationships and enhancing program outcomes.
Dr. Haley Vogel is a dedicated educator with 22 years in public education, 20 of which have been spent serving the St. Johns County School District. Passionate about classroom instruction, she has spent the last seven years helping teachers reach their full potential. Currently, she serves as the vice principal of a K-8 school, having previously worked as a high school assistant principal and science teacher. In addition to her leadership role, Dr. Vogel is a consultant for Solution Tree, leading professional development on balanced assessment systems for teachers nationwide. She also serves as a board member for the Florida Association of School Administrators. Under the guidance of Dr. Diane Yendol-Hoppey, Dr. Vogel’s dissertation, A New Perspective on Teacher Attrition and Retention: What Can Be Learned from Teachers Who Stay in the Profession?, shifts the focus from why teachers leave to why they remain. Her research provides valuable insights for school leaders seeking to reduce teacher turnover by identifying ways to better support educators and address gaps in decision-making practices. By fostering an environment where teachers not only stay but thrive, her findings offer a fresh perspective on strengthening teacher retention.