Wittenberg’s annual Opening Convocation, the traditional kick-off of the new academic year, will take place beginning at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, in historic Weaver Chapel as part of the University’s Welcome Week festivities.

Starting a new tradition this year, the annual recipient of the Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching – the top faculty prize at Wittenberg – will present the keynote address. Academic excellence in teaching and learning has always been at the forefront of Wittenberg’s mission, so having the University’s newly named Distinguished Teacher share words of wisdom seems most appropriate moving forward. This year’s recipient is Sally Brannan, professor of education, and her address is titled “Lesson Plan for Being a Lifelong Learner.”

Established in 1960, the Distinguished Teaching Award is presented to a faculty member who has completed five years of service at Wittenberg and is a full-time teacher at the time of selection. Selection is based on current performance, and all alumni, students, faculty, and staff are allowed to nominate candidates.

Brannan, who joined Wittenberg in 2001, teaches in both the graduate and undergraduate degree programs at Wittenberg. Active in research, teaching, and service during her 21 years at the University, Brannan is an expert in collaboration among special educators and related health service providers for children and students with disabilities.

“I’m a little nervous about being the first award recipient to present at Opening Convocation, but I think it’s a good thing,” she said. “There will be hundreds of students there, and I’m not usually in front of that many people at one time. It’s a big celebration to start the school year, and I’m looking forward to sharing with everyone why it’s important to be a lifelong learner.”

Brannan was also recently chosen to serve as the chair of Wittenberg’s Department of Education, a role she held from 2011-2014.

“I’m excited to be chair again,” she said. “I stepped away while I was covering other roles on campus and working with the provost’s office, so it will be nice to be in the role again. I think one of my goals for the department will be to provide a curriculum map for our program. We also recently received a positive accreditation visit, and we need to build on that and continue to look at our courses to make sure they are still pertinent for our students. We have a young faculty, and I want to look at ways to support them in their young careers while staying progressive and on top of things in the education world.”

Earning her B.A. in education from West Liberty State University in 1987, followed by an M.Ed. in special education from Ohio University in 1991, Brannan served for seven years as the director of early childhood programs at the Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center in Wheeling, West Virginia. She also taught students with severe and multiple disabilities at John Marshall High School, Marshall County Schools, in West Virginia, for two years while completing her doctoral studies at West Virginia University.

Dedicated to service, Brannan has given presentations at the national meetings of several professional societies including the Council for Exceptional Children, the American Association for Intellectual Disabilities, and the American Council on Rural Special Education. Presenting on a variety of topics including community-based instruction, assistive technology, collaboration, and distance learning, she has served on the editorial boards of Rural Special Education Quarterly and Education and Treatment of Children.

The Rev. Tracy Paschke-Johannes, the new David and Carol Matevia Endowed University pastor, will deliver the invocation, her first speaking event since joining the Wittenberg staff on Aug. 18. University Other speakers include President Michael L. Frandsen, Ph.D., Interim Provost Brian Yontz, professor of education, and Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students Casey Gill, Ph.D.

The convocation will be live-streamed and can be viewed here.

Following convocation, all faculty, staff, and students are invited to join the Tiger Team to line the walkway outside Thomas Library and cheer on and celebrate the first-year students.