Source - Education Management Corporation

ARGOSY UNIVERSITY
“I believe I have a gift for motivating students. They really appreciate the
time and care I give to their development. I try to add an extra element
of warmth and touch. It comes in different forms. I coach, prod, support,
guide, and mentor. They all yield the same reward, which is seeing a
student reach their greatest potential and become something more than
they could, at one time, imagine.” LARRY GAY REAGAN ■ “Dr. Reagan
has been a mentor, guide and true friend during my transition from public
k-12 education to higher education. She’s a joy to be around, and the
consummate academic professional. DR. KARL STERNER”
The woman who runs with wolves. In one legend from
Native American and Latina desert cultures, gifts of
nature that could be lost to the world are resurrected
through the persistence and care of La Loba, the
wolf woman.
Author Clarrisa Pinkola Estés describes the
essence of this female archetype as someone “filled
with good instincts, passionate creativity, and ageless
knowing." Many students and colleagues apply that
description to Larry Gay, who introduces folktales
and other legends in her work with students enrolled
in Argosy University’s Doctor of Education in
Educational Leadership (EdD) program.
“I sometimes end a class with a bit of legend
and song as a way of building community and
opening minds to other approaches,” Larry Gay says.
“Becoming a leader in the field of education involves
more than mastering theory. Educators are charged
with inspiring people to transform themselves,
and transformation is a recurring theme in many
folk stories.”
Larry Gay holds master’s degrees in health
education and Spanish, and a doctorate in education.
She’s developed international programs in Latin
America, launched major diversity training and
curriculum revision initiatives and organized a
Celebration of the Arts. She was recently named
Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year for
2004–2005.
She draws upon her vast knowledge of art,
music, improvisational theatre, world cultures and
languages to inspire and communicate. “Nobody
wants to hear me or anyone else lecture for three
hours,” she says. “I look for active learning
strategies that turn the classroom into a dynamic
workshop and stage.”
Future school leaders: An important aspect of
Larry Gay’s work is preparing women and others
representing minority populations for positions
of educational leadership. “Schools reflect the full
diversity of this nation,” she says. “Our future
school leaders need to be equally diverse.”
Argosy University/Sarasota’s College of
Education and Human Development offers both
Master of Arts and Doctor of Education degrees
in Curriculum & Instruction and Educational
Leadership. The School of Professional Psychology
and Behavioral Sciences offers additional programs
for school professionals, including an Education
Specialist in School Counseling (EdS), Master of Arts
in Guidance Counseling, and Master of Arts in
School Psychology.
FINDING YOUR WAY – MAKING YOUR MARK • 2005 • P13