Professor Joe Norris of the Department of Dramatic Arts is recipient of the 2015 Tom Barone Award for Distinguished Contributions to Arts Based Educational Research. Offered by the Arts Based Educational Research (ABER) Special Interest Group for the American Educational Research Association (AERA), this triennial award recognizes artist/scholars for distinguished research, professional practice, and service that advances the public understanding of arts based educational research. The award is presented to an individual whose professional career has significantly advanced the field of arts-based educational research through extraordinary and significant leadership, research, teaching, professional practice, and/or service. The award established in 2012, is named in honor of Tom Barone, the first Chair of the ABER SIG whose dedication to the development of the field and community of arts based educational researchers is exemplary. Tom Barone was also the first recipient of this award in 2012.

The criteria upon which the award was based are:
• Outstanding accomplishments in the area of arts-based educational research.
• Existence of a body of work over 10 years or more or evidence that the research has significantly influenced the field.
• Service to the ABER research community (reviewer, editorial boards, conference organizing)
• Evidence of contributions to the growth of new ABER researchers (teaching, mentoring, co-authorship) and contributions to the growth of new ABER researchers (teaching, mentoring, co-authorship).

Professor Norris teaches DART 1F95 Drama in Education and Applied Theatre I, DART 3F93 Social Issues Theatre for Community Engagement and other foundational courses for students interested in pursuing studies in Drama in Educationn and Applied Theatre.  His company ‘Mirror Theatre’ regularly presents in the Brock and regional communities.  Professor Norris publishes his material at his website www.joenorrisplaybuilding.ca

When announcing the award, Rita Irwin, Chair of 2015 Tom Barone Award Committee, wrote "It goes without saying that you have provided many distinguished contributions over 25 years and are abundantly meritorious for this award. We all look forward to celebrating this achievement with you at AERA." Professor Norris will receive the award at the April 2015 AGM of the American Educational Research Association in Chicago.  The Department congratulates Professor Norris!