12/12/02

Katie Crew

INTERIM DEAN AT AU RECEIVES AWARD FROM FLORIDA STATE

AUBURN -- Frances Kochan, interim dean of Auburn University's College of Education, has received the highest alumni honor -- the Distinguished Educator Award -- from Florida State University's College of Education.

The award is presented annually to an alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated a proven strong commitment to students and to lifelong learning, is committed to enhancing his or her professional growth and that of others, is respected by peers, has contributed significant service to the field of education at any level in either a teaching or administrative capacity and has contributed to the betterment of his or her community.

After a successful career as a teacher, principal and superintendent in elementary and secondary education, Kochan earned a doctorate in educational foundations/adult education from FSU in 1991. She then served the FSU College of Education as a faculty member and department chair before joining the AU faculty in 1994 in the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology.

She has also been director of the College of Education's primary outreach unit, the Truman Pierce Institute.

dec02: AU-fran

CONTACT: Kochan, 334/844-4446.