Celebrating the 2024 Jason Kinsey Award Winner from the National Association for School-University Partnerships

NASUP began as the National Association for Professional Development Schools (NAPDS) in 2005, an organization dedicated to supporting and advancing professional development schools as an approach to school-university partnership in teacher education that had a cause greater than either institution. The ultimate purpose of professional development schools was the simultaneous renewal of education through intense collaboration, research, reflection, innovation, and ongoing learning of all. NAPDS was born out of the University of South Carolina, and for many years, it was incubated in that institution until it was able to become an independent organization in 2016. From 2005 to 2015, Jason Kinsey worked for the University of South Carolina and simultaneously served in a role likened to an executive director to NAPDS. Jason was very much like the backbone of the Association at that time, making sure that the NAPDS functioned and put forth a thriving annual conference. His love for the organization was without question. In 2015, Jason passed away unexpectedly, and his loss was felt deeply by many.

That same year NAPDS, just after the annual conference commemorating its tenth anniversary, the Association became independent. In 2016, at the first annual conference of NAPDS as a self-supporting organization, the Association Leadership honored the impact of Jason Kinsey by posthumously bestowing the first Jason Kinsey Award to none other than Jason himself. His legacy of dedication and service to the organization, which advances partnership work, lives on through this award.

Following Jason Kinsey, the second award winner was Dr Renee Middleton, the dean of Ohio University at the time, and a staunch advocate and supporter of NAPDS and professional development schools. She demonstrated the importance of leadership in universities and colleges of education to advance partnership work.

In 2018, the award went to Dr JoAnne Ferrara, professor at Manhattanville College, another individual who worked tirelessly to advance professional development work. Dr Ferrara edited a book series on professional development schools that continues to this day. She also remains active in the Association serving as the NASUP Publications Committee Chair.

In 2019, the Association honored the late Billy Dixon, former Director of Meetings for the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE). When NAPDS, now NASUP, first became an independent organization, it faced many challenges. Billy Dixon and the ATE supported NAPDS by helping the organization launch successful conferences to support the financial health of the Association.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Association honored Karen Hassell with the Jason Kinsey Award. Karen was a longtime member of the Association and proponent of professional development schools through her own work in Waco Independent Schools in partnership with Baylor University in Texas. Karen was a key player during NAPDS’ transition, working tirelessly to help manage the Association, set up social media, and create operating procedures.

In 2021, the NAPDS recognized Dr Bernard Badiali, associate professor at Penn State University, as the recipient. Dr Badiali served as president of the Association as well as on the board of directors prior to NAPDS becoming an independent organization. For almost two decades, he worked in and co-facilitated the two-time award-winning exemplary professional development school between Penn State University and the State College Area School District. The legacy of that partnership inspired and influenced the creation of many other award-winning partnerships across the country. He was, and still is today, a scholar and champion of professional development schools and the NAPDS.

In 2022, the Association honored Dr Kristien Zenkov, professor at George Mason University, with the award. Dr Zenkov has been and continues to be a prolific scholar, practitioner, and advocate of professional development schools. He has held several leadership positions including co-chair of the Publications Committee where he also held the position of senior editor for the Association’s journals, School-University Partnerships and PDS Partners for many years. Dr Zenkov also was treasurer and served on the Policy, Advocacy, and External Relations Committee. He also was a proponent and key advocate in helping NAPDS become an independent organization.

In 2023, the NAPDS awarded Dr Doug Rogers, associate dean at Baylor University, with the Jason Kinsey Award. Dr Rogers was president of the Association and served on the board of directors. His presidency occurred during the transition to becoming an independent organization, and he worked tirelessly to ensure the Association’s success. Dr Rogers pushed the leadership to create a committee structure to involve the membership and distribute the work. Today, the Association has ten thriving committees because of his leadership. Dr Rogers was the last recipient of the award from the NAPDS since the Association has now become NASUP.

This year, the NASUP is honored to select Dr Michael Cosenza, professor at California Lutheran University, as the 2024 Jason Kinsey Award Winner. Dr Cosenza has been a longtime scholar, practitioner, and advocate of professional development schools, the NAPDS, and now the NASUP. He has published numerous articles and several books to advance school-university partnership work.

Dr Cosenza has served on the leadership team for more than a decade in roles such as president, board of directors, and now executive director. He was also part of the leadership team during the transition to becoming an independent organization, and he worked unwaveringly to envision the NASUP as the premier association for school-university partnership work. He also led the Association in designing its strategic plans for success.

In addition, Dr Cosenza was the longtime director of professional development schools at California-Lutheran University. There, he received many grants to advance the local partnership work including incorporating a residency model embedded within the professional development school design at his institution. His partnership served as a model site for those interested in launching professional development schools so that they could see an image of the possible.

Dr Cosenza is credited with starting the first state-affiliate of the NAPDS/NASUP now known as the California Association of School-University Partnerships (CASUP). Prior to the Pandemic, he led the first state-wide Clinical Fellows Symposium in California as a pilot for other symposia across the country. Dr Cosenza has been instrumental in helping other areas of the country form state-affiliate organizations to advance school-university partnerships. Today, there are four affiliate organizations.

Without question, Dr Cosenza embodies the spirit of the Jason Kinsey Award. He has made a lasting impact not only on the organization but also in the field of school-university partnerships. His vision, leadership, and advocacy have helped the Association become what it is today – the leading organization for school-university partnerships in the United States. Beyond this impactful legacy and commitment to the work, Michael is a wonderful person and dear friend to many. For those who have had the privilege of working alongside him, they have experienced firsthand his endless generosity, kind spirit, and thoughtful perspective. There is truly no one more deserving. Thank you, Michael, for all that you have given to the work, the cause, and the Association.