Harvard's Howard Gardner to Receive Inaugural "Sister Joel Read Outstanding Educator Award"

April 12, 2013

Alverno College will present the inaugural “Sister Joel Read Outstanding Educator Award” to Howard Gardner, Ph.D., who is widely considered one of the leading educational theorists of our time. Gardner is the John H. and Elisabeth A. Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and is best known for his theory of multiple intelligences. His wide-ranging work has provided the foundation for innovations in teaching, understanding student progress and integrating moral development into school cultures and curricula.

The award recognizes and honors innovators whose insights, leadership and practice have changed the practice of education for the better, and is named for Alverno College President Emerita Sister Joel Read, who is also widely considered a leader in education innovation. As part of the award, the Alverno community will engage in extended study and discussion of Gardner's ideas and accomplishments.

Gardner will receive his award at a dinner in his honor April 18 at 5:30 p.m. At the dinner, Gardner and Sister Joel Read will discuss the need for colleges and universities to focus on individual students and provide learning strategies that enable them to achieve their potential. The discussion will be moderated by Alan Borsuk, senior fellow at the Marquette Law School and longtime educational columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.