Jeff Harring2016 Rising Alumni
Jeff Harring showed early promise as a Ph.D. student in educational psychology when his dissertation research was recognized by a leading journal in his field. Before entering graduate school, Jeff taught high school mathematics for 12 years – and now teaches at the college level as an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland. He is a prolific writer and publisher, doing cutting-edge research that is applicable to assessing student educational growth. Jeff also contributes to his profession through grant reviews, organizing conferences, and association leadership.
Employer
Associate Professor, University of Maryland
CEHD Degree
M.S., Statistics, 2004
Ph.D., Educational Psychology (Quantitative Methods in Education program), 2005
What professional accomplishments are you most proud of?
Promoted with Tenure in 2012 to Associate Professor -- Measurement, Statistics and Evaluation program at the University of Minnesota
What honors and awards have you received for your hard work?
- College of Education Excellence in Teaching Award (2010). University of Maryland.
- University of Maryland Graduate Faculty Mentor of the Year Award (2015). University of Maryland.
- College of Education Excellence in Graduate Mentoring Award (2015). University of Maryland.
What’s your favorite memory from UMN?
My walk through Dinkytown on my way to Burton Hall where the old Department was housed. Stopping off every morning to get a cup of coffee at the Cafe Royale coffee shop.
My colleagues and faculty I worked with during my graduate studies.
What skills are important to succeed as an emerging professional today?
Emerge with curiosity to learn, diligence to get the work done, and perseverance when things don't go well. Oh and be smart!
What was the impact/benefit of your educational experience in CEHD?
It provided the training and professional experiences so that I could transition into my current position seamlessly.
Who has inspired you the most during your career?
My current mentor at the University of Maryland--Greg Hancock
What professors and courses were most influential during your time in CEHD?
Quantitative Research Methods advanced quantitative seminar taught by Mike Harwell. He had a way of lighting a match and stoking the proverbial fire. We could have discussed material for hours.
When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you spend it?
Cook, read and participate watching sports.
Who are you? How would others describe you?
Jolly and easy going. A good listener.
What gets you excited about work?
Working with graduate students and sharing what I have learned with them. Helping them get a footing into their next adventure.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Certainly not a statistician/psychometrician. Those aspirations came long after when I was in College and then later when I taught the AP Statistics course in High School the first year the exam was available. I discovered I wanted to learn more about this discipline and going back to graduate school seemed like the right avenue at the time.
What’s a fun fact about you?
I ran Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN in 1995. I made it under the 6 hour mark! Quite an accomplishment for someone who weighed as much as some football lineman at the University of Minnesota.