Dr. Lauren Burrow, professor of education studies at Stephen F. Austin State University, was awarded the 2026-28 Montgomery Professorship for Humane Education in the James I. Perkins College of Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
“This professorship exists to ensure humane education has a lasting place in our schools, and Dr. Burrow has spent her career doing exactly that by equipping future teachers to live out the principles of humane education,” said Dr. Amber Wagnon, interim chair of SFA’s Department of Education Studies. “Every teacher she prepares carries that influence forward, into classrooms where children learn to think critically, act with empathy and treat people, animals and the world around them with care. Few people embody the purpose of this award as fully as she does.”
The professorship was established by the late Charlotte Baker Montgomery in memory of her husband, Roger. Its purpose is to encourage and perpetuate the teaching of humane education concepts and methods in public and private elementary and secondary schools through the support of teacher preparation in humane education.
“I believe that education is the most effective means to generate solutions that lead to change,” Burrow said. “I am honored to have been awarded this professorship as it will financially support my planned service-learning projects meant to increase effective and engaging solution-oriented education for SFA teacher candidates. I hope these projects lead to positive attitudes and actions that prioritize reverence, respect and responsibility for human rights, environmental stewardship and animal protection in our shared SFA and local communities.”
Humane education is a process that assists children in developing compassion, a sense of justice and respect for all living things, according to the Humane Education Coalition. It helps children gain the knowledge and understanding to behave according to these principles and fosters a sense of responsibility needed to affirm and act upon humane education principles. It also encourages cognitive, affective and behavioral growth through personal development of critical thinking, problem-solving, perspective taking and empathy as it relates to people, animals, the planet and the intersections among them.
Burrow’s plan for the professorship has three main goals:
• Increase SFA teacher candidates’ knowledge and awareness about humane education at local levels.
• Develop SFA teacher candidates’ research and advocacy skills related to humane education issues.
• Support SFA teacher candidates’ caring actions when teaching and engaging local schools and communities about humane education issues.
Burrow plans to accomplish these goals by attending professional development trainings to grow her own awareness and skills and develop professional network partnerships to support the grant’s goals. She also will teach the “Humane and Environmental Education” course during the summer, which will focus on animal welfare and nature-based education in year one and a celebration of human identity through art in year two.
Burrow will use grant funding to make specialized events and trainings more accessible to SFA students and local teachers, including multiday, on-site field experiences for educator training with the San Antonio Zoo and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Dr. Christina Sinclair, interim dean of the James I. Perkins College of Education; Dr. Jannah Nerren, former chair of the Department of Education Studies; and a small committee of education studies faculty members selected Burrow for the award.
For more information on SFA’s Department of Education Studies, visit sfasu.edu/edstudies.
ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, 11 residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering over 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.
By University Marketing Communications
