JMU’s Grayson named Va. Professor of the Year
By Kim Ha, contributing writer
Posted on December 4, 2006

Psychology professor Joann Grayson has something else to smile about this year, having been named the 2006 Virginia Professor of the Year for her efforts in child abuse prevention and field placement.

She said, “I wanted to challenge students to learn about the actual working conditions in the field.”

The Carnegie Award is given to one professor in each state and is the only national award that recognizes college and university professors. Grayson received the honor as a “champion for child abuse prevention” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support Education.

“My field placement experience is one I will continually learn from and never forget,” senior Renae Columbe said. “I cannot think of a professor more deserving than Dr. Grayson to receive an award of such honor and prestige.”

Grayson began her JMU career as an assistant professor in the fall of 1976 and eventually started the psychology department’s field placement program, which allows students to work with the Harrisonburg community in various areas such as in mental health facilities, tutoring foster children, Habitat for Humanity and private law offices.

Senior Erin Peacock said Grayson’s program is one of the few classes that has given her practical, real-world experience.

“In the mental health profession, we have very challenging problems,” Grayson said. “It is important to learn about the failures and difficulties, and learning to work with people who aren’t always eager.

Grayson, a clinical psychologist, specializes in child abuse and neglect, family violence and child psychology. She is also the editor and publisher of the Virginia Child Protection newsletter.

In the 1960s, the government enacted the Child Abuse Mandatory Reporting law, and at that time Grayson was in charge of the children’s unit at a mental health center in St. Louis. A clinician had brought her daughter to work and the father pounded on the door to get in. It was reported that the father abused his child, but it was after hours and none of the clinicians knew how to react.
 
After the incident, Grayson was asked to head a workshop educating employees about the child abuse law. She now teaches a course on the subject at JMU.

“I think [the award] is a wonderful reflection on our students because they’re the ones out there doing the projects I coordinate,” Grayson said, “and a reflection on our community and the relations we’ve forged.”

Grayson said the application of skills is vital in the field.  A culmination of academic pieces and fieldwork enable students to be better prepared after graduation.

“I wanted students to learn about best practice standards and evidence-based intervention,” Grayson said. “Students have to learn about standards and the impediments to using them in the field.”

The tutoring program allows students to work individually with 35 foster children a semester. The students go on site to the children’s homes to work with them on a weekly basis.

“Not only has field placement helped me choose a career,” Christina Wright said, “but I also feel it has given me an edge over other undergraduates going into graduate school who have not had the benefit of real-world experience.”