Hiram College’s Education Department has earned the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), recognizing the College’s commitment to preparing effective educators through strong academic programs, meaningful clinical experiences, and continuous improvement.
The national recognition is awarded to educator preparation providers that earn CAEP accreditation with no stipulations or areas for improvement. Hiram received the distinction following its 2025 accreditation review and was formally recognized during CAEPCon on September 17 in Arlington, Virginia.
The Frank Murray Leadership Recognition honors institutions that demonstrate a strong culture of evidence-based decision-making and use data to continually strengthen their educator preparation programs and positively impact P–12 learning.
“This recognition speaks to the care and intentionality our faculty bring to preparing future educators,” said Kelly NewVine, Ph.D., director of teacher education and CAEP accreditation. “We are constantly evaluating how we teach, how our students learn, and how their experiences at Hiram prepare them for the realities of today’s classrooms. Earning this recognition affirms that commitment and, most importantly, the work we are doing to prepare educators who can make a meaningful difference for their students.”
Hiram’s recognition follows a multi-year accreditation process that included the review of program outcomes, clinical experiences, assessment practices, candidate performance, and evidence of continuous improvement. The work was led in previous years by former Directors of Teacher Education Roxanne Sorrick, Ph.D., and Jennifer McCreight, Ph.D., whose leadership helped establish and advance the processes that contributed to the College’s successful accreditation review.
For Hiram students, the recognition reflects the strength of an educator preparation program built around both academic preparation and experience in the field. Students have opportunities to connect coursework with classroom experiences, work closely with faculty, and develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to serve students and schools.
Hiram was among a select group of educator preparation providers recognized with the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition during the September ceremony. Named for founding CAEP Board Chair Frank Murray, the recognition celebrates institutions that demonstrate leadership in continuous improvement and a commitment to strengthening educator preparation.
By Jenelle Sanders
