Phone: 828-227-2474
Email: strahan@wcu.edu 
Office Address: 270 Killian

Education 

• Ed.D., University of Cincinnati, Curriculum and Instruction, 1979
• Reading Specialist, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 1973
• Master of Education, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 1972
• B.S. in Education, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 1971

Research Interests

Since joining the faculty at Western Carolina University, Dr. Strahan has initiated collaborative research projects with school systems in the region to explore ways to improve students’ academic engagement and teachers’ professional growth.

Publications and Presentations – Selected List

Books

• Ponder, G. and Strahan, D., (2005). Editors. Deep Change: Reforming Schools for Significance AND Test Success. Information Age Publishing Inc., Research on Curriculum and Instruction Series, O.L. Davis, Jr., Series Editor.
• Strahan, D., L’Esperance, M., and Van Hoose, J. (2009). Promoting harmony: Young Adolescent Development and Classroom Practices. Westerville, OH: National Middle School Association.

Refereed Journal Articles

• Strahan, D., Cope, M., Hundley, S., and Faircloth, C. (2005). Positive discipline with students show need it most: Lessons learned from an alternative approach. The Clearing House, 79 (1), 25-30.
• Strahan, D. and Layell, K. (2006).  Keeping the faith when the going is tough: How one team accomplished success in a struggling middle school. The Clearing House, 79 (3), 147-154.
• Strahan, D. Faircloth, C. V., Cope, M., and Hundley, S. (2007). Exploring the dynamics of academic reconnections: A case study of middle school teachers’ efforts and students’ responses. Middle Grades Research Journal, 2 (2), 19-41.
• Strahan, D. (2008). “Successful Teachers Develop Academic Momentum with Reluctant Students, Middle School Journal 39 (5), 4-12.
• Strahan, D., and Hedt, M., (2009). Teaching and Teaming More Responsively: Case Studies in Professional Growth at the Middle Level, RMLE Online—Research in Middle Level Education, Volume 32 (8).

Papers Presented at Professional Meetings

• Strahan, D., Bricker, P. (2009). “The flow of student engagement in an interdisciplinary unit on the hydrosphere” Presented at the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.
• Smith-McIlwain, K., and Strahan, D. (2009). “Setting a stage for understanding difficult text: Reluctant readers’ responses to Romeo and Juliette” Presented at the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.
• Strahan, D. (2009). “Exploring students’ responses to interdisciplinary learning experiences: A case study of a sixth grade unit on the rain forest” Presented at the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.
• Houghton, R., and Strahan, D. (2009). “Creating Online Courses with the Spirit of Middle Grades: Issues and Opportunities” Presented at the National Middle School Association Middle Level Teacher Education Symposium, Las Vegas, NV.
• Strahan, D. (2009). “Teach me when I seem not to care: Developing academic momentum with reluctant students” Presented at National Middle School Association, Indianapolis, IN.
• Strahan, D., And L’Esperance, M. (2010. “Promoting Harmony: Young Adolescent Development and Classroom Practices” Invited Presentation at North Carolina Middle School Association.
• Strahan, D., Kronenberg, J. Burgner, R., Doherty, J., and Hedt, M. (2010). “Deep thinking and differentiation: Developing a logic model for responsive teaching in an urban middle school,” Presented at the American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO.