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m.wilbur@collegeofathens.edu

Marcia Wilbur, PhD

President

Biography

A founding Trustee of the College of Athens, Marcia currently serves as the head of the college. She holds an A.B. from the University of Michigan, an M.A.C.T. from Michigan State University in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in Education. During her career in education, she spent 25 years as an instructional leader in secondary and post-secondary settings and leading workshops and seminars across the country on topics related to instructional pedagogy. More recently she worked for 8 years as the Executive Director of Curriculum Development for the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program. God called Marcia, her husband Rick, and their 4 children to Athens in 1999. He then called Marcia and the inaugural Board of Trustees to begin laying the foundations for CoA in 2009. Marcia is passionate about teaching all believers how to live completely and obediently surrendered to Christ, how to develop a closer relationship with the Lord through effective prayer and Bible study, and how each of us is called to use our God-given gifts purposefully for the advancement and glory of His kingdom through prayer, worship, and service. 

Education

  • PhD, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
  • MACT, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
  • AB, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Pubications

  • Meeting the Challenge for Curricular Change in Spanish Language, Literature, & Culture, Hispania, 93(1), 101-107, 2010.
  • Foreign Language Learning and SAT Verbal Scores Revisited, Foreign Language Annals, 41(2), 200-217, 2008.
  • How Foreign Language Teachers Get Taught: Methods of Teaching the Methods Course, Foreign Language Annals, 40(1), 79-101, 2007, (publication of dissertation research), 2007.
  • Foreign Language Observation Checklist. In S. Zepeda, Instructional Supervision: Applying Tools and Concepts, (pp. 100- 101). Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education, 2006.
  • Engaging Students in the L2 Reading Process, SCOLT Dimension,1-11, 2006.
  • Managing Editor, "AP Vertical Teams in World Languages and Cultures," The College Board, 2006.
  • World Languages & Cultures at the College Board, "NADSFL Newsletter," Spring, 9, 2005
  • Foreign Language Observation Checklist. In S. Zepeda, "The Instructional Leader’s Guide to Informal Classroom Observations," (pp. 38-39). Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education, 2005
  • An Introduction to Pre-AP Strategies for German Teachers, "AATG Newsletter," 40(2), 9, 2005.
  • The Power & The Purpose: Living from Your Identity in Christ, 2022

Presentations

  • "The Future of Advanced Placement: Linking Large-scale Assessment Innovations to Teaching & Learning," Council of Chief State School Officers National Conference on Student Assessment, Los Angeles, CA, 2009.
  • "AP World Languages Update—Policy & Best Practices Research," ACTFL Conference, San Antonio, TX, 2007.
  • "Pre-AP Advanced Topic for World Languages & Cultures—Differentiation & Retention," Advanced Placement Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV, 2007.
  • "Ways with Words: L2 Vocabulary and Reading Skills," SCOLT Conference, Atlanta, GA, 2007 and FLAG Conference, Jekyll Island, 2006.
  • "Long-term Vocabulary Retention Through Differentiated Instruction," Advanced Placement Annual Conference, Orlando, 2006.
  • "Building Second Language Reading Comprehension," SCOLT Conference, Orlando, 2006 and FLAG Conference, Jekyll Island, 2005.
  • "How Foreign Language Teachers Get Taught: Methods of Teaching the Methods Course," ACTFL Conference, Baltimore, 2005 (dissertation research).
  • "Building Advanced Placement World Language Programs for ALL Learners," ACTFL Conference, Baltimore, 2005.
  • "Announcing AP Chinese Language & Culture," SINO-American International Education Consortium, Atlanta, 2006.
  • "Pre-AP Strategies in World Languages: Building Proficiency," the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, New York, 2005
  • "Improved Essay Writing for the AP Foreign Language Exams," AP National Conference, Orlando, 2004.
  • "Pre-AP Skill Building," AATSP National Conference, Chicago, 2003
  • Evaluating Schools’ Induction & Mentoring Programs, GSTEP 6-Districts 2nd Annual Induction Conference, 2003.