Dr. Barbara Mize is the director of field experience, the elementary education coordinator, and a professor within the School of Education. Mize is the recipient of the National Association of the Gifted 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2001 Jefferson Pilot Faculty Member of the Year Award. She is an active member of the North Carolina Association for the Gifted, serves on numerous state committees, and provides professional development for teachers throughout the state. Mize received her master’s degree from the University of South Florida in Tampa and her doctorate in educational leadership with an emphasis in curriculum from East Carolina University. She holds a North Carolina teaching license in the categories of elementary education, theater arts, speech communication, curriculum instruction specialist, behavior/emotionally handicapped, and academically gifted.