Email: amcfadden@wcu.edu
Phone: 828-227-2093
Office Address: Hunter 182
Website: http://paws.wcu.edu/amcfadden/

Date of Appointment: 1996

Education:

• Ph.D., University of South Carolina.
• MaEd., University of South Carolina.
• B.A., Columbia College.

Research Interests:

• Women in Educational Leadership; The Social Construction of Educational Leadership; The Impact of Race, Gender, and Geography on the Selection and Behavior of Educational Leaders

Teaches:

• Introduction to School-Based Curriculum and Instructional Leadership; School Community Relations; Introduction to the Internship; School Site Internship I and II.

Personal Statement:

I am a native of South Carolina and spent my K-12 professional career in School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties in the suburbs of Columbia. I was employed at Irmo High School as an English and Journalism teacher for 11 years. For four of those years, I also served as a department chair. I spent three years as Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction at the school. While finishing my doctorate, I worked in the central office as Language Arts Coordinator K-12 and then went back to Irmo High School where I served as the district's first female high school principal.

During my third year in that role I began and later published a book Speak Softly and Carry Your Own Gym Key; A Female High School Principal's Guide to Survival ( Corwin Press, 1996). During my time as a principal, I taught adjunct for the University of South Carolina in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policies.

I came to Western in 1996 and have coordinated the Master of School Administration Program and the Principal Fellows until moving into the role of department head in fall 2004. Recently, I completed two books: Leave No Angry Child Behind: The ABC's of Anger Management for Grades K-12 with Kathy Cooper (Youthlight, Inc, 2004); and The Social Construction of Educational Leadership: Southern Appalachian Ceilings with Penny Smith (Peter Lang Publishing, 2004). The latter work is a study of the impact of race, gender, and geography on the leaders of school districts in Western North Carolina.

I am married to Dr. John W. McFadden, Jr., Professor Emeritus at Western Carolina University. We live in Sylva, very close to the university. Between us we have six grown children and five grandchildren. I enjoy reading--particularly regional fiction--and yoga.