Michele Parker Receives Inaugural Research Award

Michele Parker, professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, has received the Watson College of Education’s Inaugural Research Excellence Award, created to honor extraordinary contributions to advancing knowledge and practice. She was recognized for her exceptional scholarship, dedication to mentoring, and wide-reaching impact on the field.

Symphony Oxendine, Associate Dean of Graduate Education, Professional Programs, Faculty Affairs and Research, presented the award at the 2025 Research Speaks Conference in October.

“Dr. Parker’s scholarly record is exceptional, comprising over 50 publications, 80 presentations, and 20 grants, and reflecting a rare combination of methodological rigor, innovation and meaningful impact,” Dr. Oxendine said. “Her research has advanced our understanding of educational leadership, faculty development, and equity in education. Through practical frameworks like the i3 Model for online learning and her transformative use of Appreciative Inquiry for faculty mentoring, Dr. Parker bridges theory and practice in ways that benefit both academia and the broader educational community.”

Dr. Parker joined UNCW’s faculty in 2007. She holds a doctorate in Educational Research, Statistics, and Evaluation from the University of Virginia, and her research interests include the use of technology in K–12 and higher education as well as methodological issues in research design. She currently teaches evaluation and research courses for graduate students and coordinates WCE’s graduate certificate programs in College Teaching & Learning and Coaching & Mentoring.

“I am deeply honored to receive the Research Excellence Award,” Dr. Parker said. “I first want to thank God for ordering my steps and giving me the strength, wisdom, and grace to do the work I love with purpose. I’m grateful to my family and friends for their unwavering support and to my colleagues in the Watson College and across the university for fostering a collaborative, inspiring environment where inquiry thrives.”

“A special thanks goes to the students and alumni I’ve had the privilege to teach, mentor, and learn from, who are at the heart of what we do,” she continued. “They remind me each day that research is most powerful when it is connected to people and practice. I am humbled by this recognition and energized to continue advancing scholarship that uplifts communities, supports equity and belonging, and bridges research and real-world impact.”