faculty
Verna Lowe
Professor, Department Chair
Academic Preparation
After graduating high school in Largo, Florida, I attended Southern Wesleyan University in SC where I received my degree in Elementary and Special Education. Following my husband to graduate school at Asbury Theological Seminary, I attended the University of Kentucky where I received my MA as a school psychologist and later my Ed.D. in Special Education in 1992.
Instructional Areas and Professional Interests
I began my teaching career in middle school education in Oconee County, South Carolina, in the heart of Appalachia. That experience proved to be invaluable to my teaching in the succeeding years. Moving to Kentucky, I taught four years in middle and high school special education; then became a school psychologist. In 1982 I began full-time teaching at Asbury College and throughout my twenty-five years of tenure I have taught a variety of courses within our undergraduate professional education core and in our graduate special education program.
My “heart” for teaching is rooted in the belief of advocacy for all learners and I believe “teaching is fun.” With my special education background and experience as a school psychologist, I am committed to preparing educators who have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to teach ALL children. In particular, I am interested in children and youth with learning and behavior disabilities who often possess wonderful potential that may not be realized due to the academic and social difficulties.
My research interests focus on the design and creation of performance assessment systems, exploring classroom environments and instructional strategies that enhance the achievement of students with learning difficulties, and the study of rigor and relevance in public school classrooms of today.
Personal and Family Interests
Being married for more than three decades to a wonderful, creative individual has enabled me to have a life that is never boring. Our daughter, Robin, who is now 21 and just embarking on her teaching career in Elementary and Special Education, provides moments of reflection on my own earlier teaching years. The delight of my life has been to watch our daughter develop as an adult and educator.
In my free moments, I love to read, walk my dog, and do Sudoku puzzles. During the spring and summer, you may often find me busily working in my yard among plants and flowers. My favorite places are “beaches.” As a former Floridian, I have to go south annually to refuel on the “beach.” Traveling is important to me and I have explored cultures outside of the borders of the US.
Teaching at Asbury
For the past twenty-five years, I have been privileged to work with faculty who make a tremendous investment into the lives of Asbury students. Within the Education Department, I work with colleagues who love teaching, share the burden of responsibility for educating our children and youth, and are committed to preparing the best educators possible for our nation’s schools. Our staff members are hard-working, encouraging to students, and supportive of the endeavors of our department.
We invite you to come visit us and let us “facilitate your success” as a future educator.
Email Verna Lowe
