Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012
The School of Education will kick off its 100th anniversary celebration with an address by U.S. Rep. Rush Holt on October 17.
by Sean Ramsden
Rider’s School of Education, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary during the 2012-13 academic year, will launch its commemoration with a keynote address by U.S. Rep. Rush Holt on Wednesday, October 17, in the Bart Luedeke Center Cavalla Room. The free event will begin with a reception from 5:30 to 6 p.m, and be followed by Holt’s address and a Q&A session from 6 to 7 p.m.
A Democrat who represents New Jersey’s 12th Congressional district, Holt serves on the Committee on Education and Labor in the House of Representatives, including the subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education. A scientist by background, Holt served as the assistant director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory at Princeton University, the state’s largest center for energy research, from 1989 until his election to Congress in 1998. Previously, he led the Nuclear and Scientific Division of the Office of Strategic Forces at the U.S. Department of State for two years.
Holt became the first Democrat from his district to be elected to the House of Representatives in two decades when he unseated Republican incumbent Mike Pappas. He earned a bit of pop culture celebrity in early 2011 when he beat “Watson,” an IBM-engineered computer capable of answering questions natural language, in a non-televised exhibition of the ABC quiz show Jeopardy! Watson had previously defeated Brad Rutter, Jeopardy!’s all-time money winner, as well as its longest-running champion, Ken Jennings, who won 74 consecutive matches.
Founded in 1913, Rider’s School of Education has become a cornerstone of the University by creating a diverse set of student-centered programs that address the needs of 21st century learners. Through partnerships with local schools, businesses, and government and community agencies, the School of Education works collaboratively to develop high-quality programs for its students.
The School of Education’s field-based programs and strong Rider alumni network provide important contacts and mentoring opportunities that lead to employment opportunities for its graduates. Rider students have been named New Jersey Distinguished Student Teachers of the Year for each of the past three years.