Jan M. Ignash

The Specialized Associate's Degree in Teacher Education: Effective Pathway or Degree Proliferation?

To address the teacher shortage, some states have developed special associates degrees in teacher education. This article explores the prevalence and structure of these specialized associates degrees and presents a case for their development to smooth the transfer pathway for community college students who wish to become teachers.

Teaching and Mentoring Future Leaders in the Field.

Any discussion of Arthur M. Cohen’s contributions to community colleges must include the students he taught and mentored during his 40 years as a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. Arthur Cohen and his colleague and spouse, Florence Brawer, had a huge impact on community colleges through the sheer number of former students who graduated and became community college leaders and scholars. Through frequent contact with students, deep understanding of the field, passion for the work, and willingness to include students in a community of scholars, Cohen and Brawer demonstrated what it truly means to be a mentor and teacher.