WVU/HRE Hall of Fame 2007

2007 Hall of Fame Members Announced

Three new members, Susan Brown Hardesty, Melanie A. Kerber, and Joanna Strosnider Nesselroad, were inducted into the College's Hall of Fame on March 16, 2007.

Susan Brown Hardesty is best known recently for her leadership of the West Virginia University’s Parents Club, but her commitment to parents and community involvement in education began long before she became WVU’s first lady in 1995. Her advocacy for parent involvement was a hallmark of her 16 years as a music and special education teacher in West Virginia schools. She developed Jackson County’s Read Aloud Program, a program which has now spread to every county in the state. Mrs. Hardesty earned a bachelor’s degree in music education in 1967 from the College of Creative Arts at West Virginia University and a master’s degree in special education in 1974 from the University of West Virginia College of Graduate Studies in Institute, West Virginia.

Melanie A. Kerber’s far-reaching impact on the field of special education and diverse learners has taken many forms: classroom teacher, educational consultant, college professor, director of an adolescent treatment center, school administrator, and international advocate for special education. She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1974 from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in 1979 and a doctoral degree in 1991 in special education from the College of Human Resources & Education. Currently she is the principal of Sto-Rox High School in McKee’s Rocks, Pennsylvania.

Joanna Strosnider Nesselroad is a pioneer and leader in the development of early childhood education in the state of West Virginia. Dr. Nesselroad developed one of the nation’s first Head Start Programs in McDowell County, West Virginia, and went on to serve as a national consultant for Head Start. As a faculty member at several universities, her professional research and teachings contributed to the learning theories that have become part of what is nationally accepted as “best practice” for young children today. All three of her degrees, a bachelor’s degree in 1946 in home economics, a master’s degree in 1955 in home economics, and a doctoral degree in education in 1978, are from West Virginia University.

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	2007 Hall of Fame Members Announced Three new members, Susan Brown Hardesty, Melanie A. Kerber, and Joanna Strosnider Nesselroad, were inducted into the College's Hall of Fame on March 16, 2007. Susan Brown Hardesty is best known recently for her leadership of the West Virginia University’s Parents Club, but her commitment to parents and community involvement in education began long before she became WVU’s first lady in 1995. Her advocacy for parent involvement was a hallmark of her 16 years as a music and special education teacher in West Virginia schools. She developed Jackson County’s Read Aloud Program, a program which has now spread to every county in the state. Mrs. Hardesty earned a bachelor’s degree in music education in 1967 from the College of Creative Arts at West Virginia University and a master’s degree in special education in 1974 from the University of West Virginia College of Graduate Studies in Institute, West Virginia. Melanie A. Kerber’s far-reaching impact on the field of special education and diverse learners has taken many forms: classroom teacher, educational consultant, college professor, director of an adolescent treatment center, school administrator, and international advocate for special education. She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1974 from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in 1979 and a doctoral degree in 1991 in special education from the College of Human Resources & Education. Currently she is the principal of Sto-Rox High School in McKee’s Rocks, Pennsylvania. Joanna Strosnider Nesselroad is a pioneer and leader in the development of early childhood education in the state of West Virginia. Dr. Nesselroad developed one of the nation’s first Head Start Programs in McDowell County, West Virginia, and went on to serve as a national consultant for Head Start. As a faculty member at several universities, her professional research and teachings contributed to the learning theories that have become part of what is nationally accepted as “best practice” for young children today. All three of her degrees, a bachelor’s degree in 1946 in home economics, a master’s degree in 1955 in home economics, and a doctoral degree in education in 1978, are from West Virginia University. Previous news articles and pictures