The Leo D. Doherty Memorial Award is given to a NERA member who exemplifies the qualities which Leo Doherty brought to NERA, as well as to his colleagues, friends and students. Four characteristics were clearly identified: leadership, ethics, humanity, and service to professional organizations. The recipient of this year’s Leo D. Doherty Award, Gavrielle Levine, exemplifies all of these.

Gavrielle received her Ph.D. from Columbia University and is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Long Island University, C. W. Post Campus. Prior to coming to LIU, Gavrielle was a researcher with E. Z. Rothkopf at Columbia and later with R. L. Thorndike at Teachers College.

In addition to teacher, Gavrielle is a program evaluation consultant and has worked with such children’s educational television programs as Reading Rainbow, 3-2-1 Contact, and Ghostwriter. She also has an impressive list of publications and presentations.

Gavrielle first came to NERA in 1987. She became the editor of the NERA Researcher in 1993, a position she held until 1995. She was elected to the board of directors and served from 1997 to 2000 and chaired the Teacher-as-Researcher committee in 1999. With respect to leadership, Gavrielle was elected to the post of president-elect in 2003 and became president in 2004.

Gavrielle continues to present at NERA, to serve on committees and to provide support, experience and wisdom to NERA.