Matthew Capps, Dean of the West College of Education, was honored with the Joyce Hardin Service Award from the Texas Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, Council of Deans of Education, during the general meeting Oct. 19.

Capps received the award for his work on state advisory committees, his influence on state policy and educator preparation, and representation of Texas at the national level. The award is presented annually for outstanding service to the TACTE and the education profession.

“It means a great deal to me that my colleagues selected me for this award,” Capps said. “I think it is a recognition of my effort to engage and question decisions and policies regarding educator preparation at the state and national level. Sometimes I think my voice falls on deaf ears with state and national agencies but, when the award was presented, a comment was made about how much I have influenced policies at both levels so, maybe that voice is having a larger impact than I realize.”

Hardin was the former Executive Director of the TACTE. Previously, she was the dean of the college of education at Lubbock Christian University.