SOE Professor Recognized at Grants Reception

Seokhee Cho, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership (DAIL), The School of Education, was recognized with the Overall Success Award at a Grants Reception and Award Ceremony held on March 23 on St. John’s University’s Queens, NY, campus.

“I am very grateful for the support of the Provost, Dean, and my colleagues from the Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership,” said Dr. Cho.

Since 2008, Dr. Cho has secured a total of nine million dollars through 16 grants, including three grants from the US Department of Education’s Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program: Project BRIDGE, Project HOPE, and Project WINGS.

Project BRIDGE, which was funded from 2017 to 2022, developed the academic competency of young gifted English learners through an advanced mathematics program and language scaffolding. “Through their efforts with Project BRIDGE, Dr. Cho and her team helped put St. John’s on the map of gifted education and contributed to higher US News & World Report rankings,” said James D. Wolfinger, Ph.D., Dean, The School of Education.

Project BRIDGE is built upon the St. John’s team’s prior Project HOPE research study, which was funded by the US Department of Education from 2009 to 2014. This research study evaluated the effectiveness of the Mentoring Mathematical Minds (M3) program for mathematically promising English learners. The M3 program utilizes an acceleration and enrichment approach, with an emphasis on students’ communication skills, to achieve a mathematical way of problem solving.

Project WINGS, which is funded through 2027, builds enrichment programs for English learners with high potential, including those with disabilities in kindergarten through third grade in New York, Texas, and California.