The Environmental Education Association of Alabama (EEAA) recently paid tribute to Troy University Assistant Professor Dr. Shirley J. Farrell for her years of dedicated service to the organization.

Dr. Farrell was awarded the “Soaring High Award,” in recognition of service to the organization that has gone above and beyond what is required. The award was presented as a part of the Best Environmental Education Programs Awards ceremony during the organization’s 2022 annual conference held Feb. 24-26 in Gulf Shores.

“I was caught off guard with this award. They created an award just for me to show their appreciation of my work on the board and service to the organization,” Dr. Farrell said. “In addition to the certificate, they presented me with a card signed by all the board members and a hummingbird pin. I didn’t expect any recognition and was very humbled and honored by the EEAA Board of Directors, my peers, who went above and beyond to show their appreciation.”

Dr. Farrell has served on the EEAA Board of Director for 27 years and continues to be an active board member. In addition to her service to EEAA, she also is current president and longtime member of the Executive Council of the Alabama Association for Gifted Children.

Jimmy Stiles, the longest serving board member, called Farrell the “glue that holds the board together.” Wild Alabama Executive Director Maggie Johnston referred to Farrell as the group’s “brain and nervous system.”

A member of the TROY faculty since 2017, Dr. Farrell is the Coordinator of the Gifted Education Program and Co-Coordinator of Assessment in the Department of Teacher Education.

“The Department of Teacher Education is very proud of Dr. Farrell for receiving this recognition from the Environmental Education Association of Alabama,” said Dr. Joe Johnson, Teacher Education Department Chair. “Dr. Farrell continues to be a highly motivated colleague who has made TROY the premier Gifted Education program in the state.”

The EEAA is in the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance network of state affiliates of the North American Association for the North American Association for Environmental Education. Its mission is to enhance the abilities of formal and informal educators to connect people to the natural world in order to foster responsible stewardship.