Claudia Morrell Wins Soroptomist Ruby Award

NAPE congratulates Claudia Morrell for being honored by the Soroptomist International of Arbutus, Maryland during its awards dinner on April 22, 2015. Claudia received the group’s Ruby Award, which awards women who, through their professional or personal efforts, are making extraordinary differences in the lives of women or girls. In accepting the award, Claudia talked about her journey through life with women and her realization that the secret to happiness is being content with what life gives you on your unique journey and using your gifts to serve the world.

Claudia served as NAPE’s Chief Operating Officer from 2010 to 2014. During her tenure with NAPE, Claudia helped to grow the organization from $600,000 to $2 million in revenues. She led the development of the Micromessaging to Reach and Teach Every Student professional development program, which is currently requested across the country. This research-based program provides educators with an awareness of the power of micromessages to improve classroom pedagogy and increase the enrollment, retention, performance, and completion of underrepresented students in nontraditional careers. Claudia conceived the Culture Wheel, which serves as the foundation for new thinking around educational equity and was originally published in the American Association of Colleges & Universities’ Diversity & Democracy in 2013. Claudia also contributed to NAPE’s growth by developing and implementing research and marketing strategies and forming a Business Alliance Council.

During the fourth quarter of 2014, Claudia transitioned to serving as a Senior Consultant with NAPE. In this role, she will continue to deliver Micromessaging professional development to educators across the country and to lead national-level efforts with Johns Hopkins University School of Education and other organizations to publish research that moves the field forward.

Congratulations, Claudia!