College of Education Gallery of Success

The Gallery of Success portrays successful alumni from the College of Education at Temple University. In sharing their stories, we hope to strengthen the connection between our student body and those who have given the College such a tremendous reputation. In turn, this tradition not only recognizes our outstanding alumni, but also builds community and reaffirms our hope and pride in our future alma mater as well.

Becoming a part of the College’s history involves more than attending your graduation ceremony. Our alumni have contributed to the advancement of education, on local and national levels, in a plethora of fields and practices. More importantly, they have supported the ongoing activities, fundraisers, and mentoring projects we undertake here at the College of Education.

We will add more successful alumni to the Gallery of Success every fall season in conjunction with the Homecoming Events at Temple University. Please be sure to visit our gallery on the first floor of Ritter Annex to follow-up on these additions to the Gallery of Success.

This is the kind of story we hope to keep retelling to all of our students for years to come. So engage yourself—positive influence can only cause greatness.

Susie Suh, Director
Institutional Advancement
College of Education, Temple University

Event Photos:

The College of Education Celebrated its 2nd Annual College of Education Gallery of Success Celebration honoring Shelly Dorfman, Dr. Willard Daggett and 2008 Alumni Fellow, Naomi Winokur Finkel. Click here for photos.

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2008 Temple University Gallery of Success Recipients from the College of Education

Dr. Diane Nelson Bryen BS Ed’68, M Ed’71, Ph D’74

A three-time graduate of Temple University, Dr. Diane Nelson Bryen has worked toward making the goals of independence, productivity, inclusion, and full participation a reality for and with people with disabilities.  As professor of Special Education since 1973 and Executive Director of Temple's Institute on Disabilities, Pennsylvania’s University Center for Excellence since 1992 through to her retirement in 2008, Dr. Bryen has been a leader, mentor, advocate, teacher, and friend in the disability community.   Her vision is translated into action in a variety of ways. As a professor, mentor, and advisor at Temple University, she has influenced the lives of thousands of undergraduate and graduate students.  As a writer, she has published extensively targeting both the academic and the disability communities.  As Director of Pennsylvania’s University Center for Excellence, she has founded several unique programs that directly impact the quality of life of people with disabilities today and in the future. As an advocate, she has worked with local, state and national systems to secure needed services and supports so that people with disabilities can have the full opportunity to live, go to school, work, and form meaningful relationships just like their nondisabled peers. As a researcher, much of her work and that of her students has been consumer-focused, consumer-driven, and policy relevant.  Dr. Bryen served on several statewide, national and international boards. Her many contributions to improving the quality of life of and equal justice for people with disabilities have been widely recognized (i.e., the first annual Temple University Great Teacher's Award; the 1996 Humanitarian Award from United Cerebral Palsy of Pennsylvania; the ACES Free Speech Now Award in 1992; two leadership awards from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities; the Temple University Stauffer Award for distinguished service in 2006; and the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of University Centers on Disability in 2007.

Naomi Winokur Finkel BS Ed'52

Naomi Winokur Finkel graduated from Temple University College of Education in 1952. She taught for the Philadelphia School District, the United States Air Force in France and the Los Angeles Unified School District. While teaching at LAUSD, she became an award-winning educational writer creating film scripts and publications for many companies including Disney Educational Media, Instructor Curriculum Materials, and Prentice Hall. Two of her films won CINE awards. Talk about serendipity!  An unexpected door opened when a parent of a student in her class asked her to write the product copy for his 32 page plastics catalog. He was very pleased and many referrals followed.  She soon had a growing, active side business writing collateral materials for companies while she was teaching. In 1982, Naomi founded Say It With Words, a marketing and advertising agency specializing in corporate communications. She is a business journalist, a marketing college instructor, a guest speaker, and the author of How to Get Big Business Exposure on a Small Business Budget. She is also an active member of her Rotary Club in Westlake Village, California and the American Association of University Women. Naomi believes that “Our training as educators gives us the ability to motivate, to guide, to teach and to encourage those whose lives we touch to build confidence in their ability to become our emerging leaders in all fields.  What a gift!” Her agency can be found on www.siww.net

 

For A Complete List of All College of Education Gallery of Success Inductees, Click Here.

 

If you have any questions or comments regarding the Gallery of Success, contact Susie Suh, Director of Development and Alumni Affairs at 215-204-0916 or at susie.suh@temple.edu