Service as a calling: Spotlight on Dr. Elizabeth Beavers

Dr. Elizabeth Beavers' journey into the realm of education began at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she initially majored in psychology. It wasn't long before she discovered her true passion lay with teaching.

"That passion included advocating for others while creatively problem-solving, inspiring families, supporting other teachers, and continually growing myself," she explained. "Within the field of early childhood special education, I found true joy in working with families, collaborating with peers, and mostly in seeing children thrive."

Today, Dr. Beavers is an associate professor of special education at University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL). Her commitment to service is profound, having held over 100 service commitments and leadership roles throughout her career. She currently co-chairs the New Teacher Mentoring Collaborative Initiative, through which she has mentored 15 new teachers. Her leadership extends beyond mentoring, as she also provides training and resources to adjunct professors year-round.

"Much of my early leadership experiences were due in part to leading by doing or supporting others, which opened opportunities to expand my leadership capacities in different realms of experiences," she said. "My desire to lead is really rooted in a desire to advocate, empower, and evolve change or growth."

Dr. Beavers' devotion to lead and serve others spans multiple facets of the university and higher education. She served on UH-Clear Lake's Faculty Senatefor three years as president-elect and president. She also served on the University of Houston System Faculty Senate Executive Committee. Currently, she serves as director of UHCL's Special Education (SPED) program, for which she has led restructuring and actively recruits.

Her long list of achievements has not gone unnoticed by her peers, leading to her selection for the 2024 President's Distinguished Service Award.

"The very things that are at the heart of my love for teaching are what attract me to opportunities to serve others," she said. "My goals in serving UHCL and our community involve being an active contributor when appropriate, whether it's recognizing where a voice is needed and speaking up, identifying where I may possibly contribute to solutions, or seeking to support others."