Jana Hunzicker
Associate Dean, Associate Professor of Teacher Education
Ed.D., Curriculum and Instruction, Illinois State University 2006
M.A., Educational Administration, Bradley University 1994
B.S., Elementary Education, Bradley University 1989
Dr. Jana Hunzicker is an associate professor in Bradley University’s Department of Teacher Education and associate dean for Bradley’s College of Education and Health Sciences. She holds a master’s degree in educational administration, a doctorate in curriculum and instruction, Illinois Type 75 administrative certification, and the Illinois superintendent endorsement. In addition to seven years of teaching experience at the middle school level, Dr. Hunzicker served for nine years as an elementary/middle school administrator before transitioning to higher education in 2007.
Dr. Hunzicker teaches undergraduate courses in young adolescent development, middle school instruction, and reading/language arts. In addition, she teaches two graduate courses in teacher leadership. Her teaching style combines traditional instruction, active learning, and reflective practice. She tries to enliven her classes with meaningful discussion, activities, and projects to promote higher order thinking and provide opportunities for students to authentically apply information and ideas.
Dr. Hunzicker’s research interests include teacher leadership, effective teaching practices, teacher learning, professional development, and professional development schools. Her research typically utilizes qualitative and mixed methods, including ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, case study, survey research, and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Dr. Hunzicker has authored over 40 refereed journal articles and book chapters. In addition, she is the editor of the recently-published book Teacher Leadership in Professional Development Schools (Emerald Publishing, May 2018).
In addition to department, college, and university level service for Bradley, Dr. Hunzicker chairs the National Association for Professional Development Schools (NAPDS) Communications Committee, serves on the Washington Township United Fund (WTUF) board of directors, and reviews scholarly manuscripts for nine refereed journals, including School-University Partnerships, Teacher Development, and International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. She is a recipient of the Joan L. Sattler Endowed Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching (2013), the College of Education and Health Sciences Faculty Research Award (2012), and the College of Education and Health Sciences Faculty Service Award (2011).