Dr. Becky Thurman, Ed.D., Educational Administration

Director of Graduate Studies

After completing her B.A. in English and Secondary Education at SDSU, Dr. Thurman taught high school English for 30+ years, most of those years at O'Gorman High School and Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls. In 2005, Dr. Thurman completed her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership at USF and in 2009, her Ed.D. in Educational Administration/Adult and Higher Ed at USD. From 2010 through 2021, Dr. Thurman served as the Director of Graduate Education Programs in the Fredrikson School of Education at USF, and during that time was also granted Associate Professor of Education faculty status. Currently, Dr. Thurman is the Director of Graduate Studies, directing the Doctorate in Leadership and overseeing the M.Ed., Ed.S., and MBA programs and a Dissertation Chair.

Education

  • B.A., English, South Dakota State University, 1974
  • M.Ed., Educational Leadership, University of Sioux Falls, 2005
  • Ed.D., Educational Administration: Adult and Higher Ed, University of South Dakota, 2009

Courses Taught

  • EDU506 - Foundations of Educaton
  • EDU521 - Curriculum Development and Design
  • EDU555 - Research and Instructional Management
  • EDU522 - Curriculum Development and Design-Elementary Internship
  • EDU530 - Curriculum Development and Design-Secondary Internship
  • EDU562 - Diversity Issues in Education
  • EDU 523 - Curriculum Development and Design/K-12 Internship
  • AHE520 - Higher Education Administration
  • AHE534 - Internship in Adult and Higher Education

Professional Memberships

Christian Adult Higher Education Association (CAHEA)
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
University Representative for American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (SDACTE)

Expertise

  • English and Composition; Adult and Higher Education; Curriculum Development and Design

Research

Doctoral Dissertation: Teaching of Critical Thinking Skills in the English Content Area in South Dakota Public High Schools and Colleges

                 

Service/Volunteer Work

First Presbyterian Church Stephen Minister
South Dakota State University Prairie Repertoire Theatre Board of Directors
First Presbyterian Church Board of Deacons
First Presbyterian Church Confirmation Teacher
Siouxland Libraries Board of Trustees
Sioux Falls School District Curriculum Council