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Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô is proud to announce that Dr. J. Kenneth Young, associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership within the College of Education and Human Development, has been named the 2024 Texas Council of Professors of Educational Administration (TCPEA) Advocate of the Year. The award recognizes professors who have made outstanding contributions to the field of educational administration and the organization through service and advocacy. 

Dr. Young, who has been a part of Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô's Center for Doctoral Studies in Educational Leadership since 2008, was selected by the TCPEA Awards Committee based on a thorough evaluation process. Members of the organization are invited annually to nominate their peers, addressing specific criteria that demonstrate the nominee's impact on the profession. Nominations are reviewed anonymously by the committee, with the highest composite score determining the recipient of the award.

"It means a great deal to me that someone in the organization valued my contributions enough to nominate me," Dr. Young said. "I am honored that the committee found the rationale compelling enough to select me for this award. The recognition is also deeply meaningful because of the history of the organization's impact on the field and the strong relationship between Lamar's educational leadership faculty and TCPEA."

Dr. Young's journey in education began after 15 years of full-time service in Christian ministry, during which he held roles such as youth minister, senior minister, and men's program coordinator for a nonprofit ministry. In 2008, while pursuing his Ph.D. in educational psychology, he was introduced to the field of educational leadership through an adjunct position at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. After completing his doctorate in December of 2008, Dr. Young joined Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô, where he has since been instrumental in shaping the next generation of educational leaders.

In addition to this recognition from TCPEA, Dr. Young was also elected in the summer of 2024 to serve a three-year term on the executive board of The International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership. As a new board member, he is eager to contribute to the organization's global impact, drawing on innovative practices from his previous experiences at the state level.

The entire Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô community congratulates Dr. Young on this well-deserved honor and looks forward to seeing his continued contributions to the field of educational leadership.