2018 News

Professor to receive Distinguished Career Award from National Council for the Social Studies

Stephen Thornton | °ϲĻϢCollege of Education

College of Education Professor Stephen Thornton, PhD, will receive a national award for his extensive contributions to knowledge in the field of social studies education.

TAMPA, Fla. (October 5, 2018) – To celebrate his extensive contributions to the field of social science education, College of Education Professor Stephen Thornton, PhD, was selected as the recipient of the National Council for the Social Studies’ 2018 .

Founded in 1921, the is the largest professional association in the country devoted solely to social studies education. The Jean Dresden Grambs Distinguished Career Research Award recognizes professionals who have made extensive contributions to knowledge concerning significant areas of social studies education through meritorious research.

Dr. Thornton is a professor of social science education in the College of Education’s Department of Teaching and Learning. His research interests are centered on how social studies teachers serve as curricular-instructional gatekeepers, and he has investigated this topic through observational studies of classroom curriculum enactment, historical investigations of instructional programs, and reviews of research on classrooms. His current research centers on curricular integration of geography in American history courses.  

Throughout his career, Dr. Thornton has published more than 100 scholarly articles and chapters. His publications include the award-winning “,” five editions of “,” two editions of “” and “.”

Dr. Thornton will be honored at the 98th Annual Conference of the National Council for the Social Studies in November.