Graduate student spotlight: Lyn Lucas

Student spotlight: Lyn Lucas

Fort Worth, Texas

2/14/2011

Lyn Lucas graduated as a Curriculum Studies student with a M.Ed in Dec. 2009. During her graduate school studies, she worked for a local social-service organization that focuses on children and youth with special needs, many of whom were involved in the state Child Protective Services program. She studied how adults who work in such organizations manage the vicarious trauma that can occur when working with traumatized youth. Lucas’ article on the topic was published in 2007 in Childhood Education, journal of the Association for Childhood Education International.

Lucas’ thesis centered on a study of how adults in an early learning community (child care) work with one another, the challenges they face in building relationships between one another and how they overcome such barriers – through a framework of caring as considered and taught by Nel Noddings.

Lucas now works for Camp Fire USA – First Texas Council as Vice President for Group Services.

“Because a part of the mission at Camp Fire USA is building caring, competent citizens, I continue to consider and learn about caring as an ethic,” said Lucas. “I am finding my graduate school experiences continue to inform my life in both personal and professional ways, and I am grateful for the professors and peers who helped guide me through the program.”

Lucas also serves on the College of Education’s Curriculum Studies Advisory Board.