EDUCATION
| Degree | Area of Study | University |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship | University of Utah | |
| Ph.D. | Higher Education Administration | The University of Alabama |
| M.Ed. | Higher Education with a concentration in Student Affairs | University of Virginia |
| B.S. | Business Management and Spanish | Berry College |
Graduate Certificates
| College and University Teaching | The University of Alabama, 2022 |
AWARDS AND HONORS
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2024-2025 | Teaching Academy’s Inaugural Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Writers Group, The University of Alabama |
| 2022 | Most Outstanding Ph.D. Student for Research |
| 2021 | National Alumni Association Fellow, The University of Alabama |
| 2021 | Most Outstanding Ph.D. Student for Teaching, The University of Alabama |
| 2019 | New Professional of the Year, University of Alabama at Birmingham |
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Faculty Mothers
Equity and Social Justice in Higher Education
Student Affairs
University Teaching and Learning
CURRENT RESEARCH AND GRANT PROJECTS
- Exploring the experiences of faculty mothers, examining equity-based leadership in higher education, analyzing the scholarship of teaching and learning, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in colleges and universities.
HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS
Beck, P. (2024). How Does She Do It? Painting the Faculty Mother Experience. Accepted presentation for the 2024 49th Annual Association for the Study of Higher Education Conference.
Roden, P. (2023). Can We Have It All? Painting a Picture of the Faculty Mother Experience. Presentation for the 2023 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting.
Roden, P. (2021). Faculty Mothers: A Comparative Case Study Looking at the Influence of Tenure Track Status. Presentation for the 46th Annual Association for the Study of Higher Education Conference.
Roden, P. (2020). Student Affairs in the 21st Century: Learning from Our Elders to Meet Current Challenges. Journal of College and Character, 21:4, 329-334.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS / ACTIVITIES
- Annual Conference Peer Reviewer, American Educational Research Association, 2024-25
- Certified Research Mentor, Research Education, University of Utah, 2022
- New Professionals Representative, Orientation Transition and Retention KC, NASPA, 2019-2023
- Communication Coordinator, Alabama State Board, NASPA, 2018-2020
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Paton Roden Beck is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the ELPTS Department at the University of Alabama. Her research interests include exploring the experiences of faculty mothers, examining equity-based leadership in higher education, analyzing the scholarship of teaching and learning, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in colleges and universities. Dr. Beck has a strong background in student development and engagement, having held various roles in student affairs, including the areas of residence life, leadership coordination, career services, and diversity and inclusion efforts.
Dr. Beck earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration here in Tuscaloosa, AL from the University of Alabama, where she also completed a Graduate Certificate in College and University Teaching. She holds a Master of Education in Higher Education with a concentration in Student Affairs from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Spanish from Berry College in Rome, GA. Throughout her career, Dr. Beck has been recognized for her outstanding research and teaching, receiving awards such as the Most Outstanding Ph.D. Student for Research and Teaching from the University of Alabama. She is actively involved in professional organizations, including NASPA, AERA, and ASHE, and is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in higher education.