It is with great respect and appreciation that we celebrate Dr. David Zera, who retired on May 31. Thank you David for your many contributions and accomplishments, especially for providing opportunities for marginalized students to complete degrees at Fairfield University.
Colleague and frequent collaborator, Dr. Anne Campbell, said this about Dr. Zera:
David is an internationally-recognized scholar and has been awarded multiple federal grants to train bilingual special education teachers in Connecticut. In 2007 he was recognized by former Fairfield University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. as one of the eight largest benefactors to Fairfield University because of federal grant monies awarded to the University.
David epitomizes the Jesuit values of service to others and cura personalis. He embraces the scholar-practitioner model and cares deeply about students and their development as teachers and advocates for Els and students with special needs.
Through his long-standing partnerships with high needs communities in Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk, and Stamford Conn., and his dedication to serving underserved students and their families, David’s life work has made a difference. More that 200 educators were prepared through the federal National Professional Development grants that he authored and co-authored. Today these educators serve as teachers, district supervisors, and principals throughout Connecticut; they carry on David’s work of making a difference with some of the most vulnerable student populations in Connecticut’s schools and surrounding communities.
A respected colleague and good friend, David will be missed.
Thank you to Joann O’Connell for her two years of service as a visiting instructor teaching clinical classes in Counselor Education and for her commitment to training effective and empathetic counselors. Her service on faculty committees and through student advising has been invaluable to the Counselor Ed Department.
Colleague and frequent collaborator, Dr. Anne Campbell, said this about Dr. Zera:
David is an internationally-recognized scholar and has been awarded multiple federal grants to train bilingual special education teachers in Connecticut. In 2007 he was recognized by former Fairfield University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. as one of the eight largest benefactors to Fairfield University because of federal grant monies awarded to the University.
David epitomizes the Jesuit values of service to others and cura personalis. He embraces the scholar-practitioner model and cares deeply about students and their development as teachers and advocates for Els and students with special needs.
Through his long-standing partnerships with high needs communities in Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk, and Stamford Conn., and his dedication to serving underserved students and their families, David’s life work has made a difference. More that 200 educators were prepared through the federal National Professional Development grants that he authored and co-authored. Today these educators serve as teachers, district supervisors, and principals throughout Connecticut; they carry on David’s work of making a difference with some of the most vulnerable student populations in Connecticut’s schools and surrounding communities.
A respected colleague and good friend, David will be missed.
Thank you to Joann O’Connell for her two years of service as a visiting instructor teaching clinical classes in Counselor Education and for her commitment to training effective and empathetic counselors. Her service on faculty committees and through student advising has been invaluable to the Counselor Ed Department.
