Erin Melcher, M.A.
Assistant Professor of Education
Phone: (616) 632-2433
E-mail: erin.melcher@aquinas.edu
Erin Melcher has been involved with the Aquinas School of Education for over twenty years. She completed both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Aquinas and joined the faculty in July of 2004, after several years of teaching in elementary school. In addition to her teaching duties, Erin is a member of the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, she chairs the Student Concerns Committee, and is the Director of the Language Arts program. Erin is currently working toward completion of her Ph.D. in Education at Michigan State University. Her doctoral studies include research and teaching opportunities focused on the preparation of pre-service teachers as well as mentorship and support of beginning teachers. When not at Aquinas, Erin can be found in her garden, watching one of her son’s football, baseball, or basketball games, or attending one of her daughter’s dance performances.
Research
Currently engaged in doctoral work at Michigan State University
Dissertation focus is “Teacher Education and Literacy”
2005 – Present: through doctoral studies, has been assigned various roles as a member of the “New Era” project, which examines the relationship and efficacy of beginning teachers and mentors. Participating institutions in the project are Stanford, the University of Virginia, Boston College, and Florida A&M. The project is funded through a joint effort of the Carnegie, Annenberg, Ford, and Rockefeller Foundations
Presentations
2008 (February): presented the work of the “New Era” project at the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education Annual Conference in New Orleans
2007 – Present: member of “Community Outreach Tomorrow,” a partnership with Lansing Public Schools that is granted funded through the National Science Foundation
1607 Robinson Road S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49506-1799 - (616) 632-8900
