Albury speech and drama teacher Jan Skinner awarded honorary doctorate

Jan Skinner received an honorary doctorate, Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa, from the Australian Guild of Music Education, the first time that higher education institution has bestowed such an award.

Born and raised in Albury, Ms Skinner has been teaching and examining since the late 1960s, both in Melbourne and her home town. She has produced more than 30 musicals and 20 plays and taken groups to competitions around Australia.

Holding a fellowship from the London College of Music and an Examiners Licentiate, Ms Skinner entered 54 successful candidates for their AGME Associate Diplomas between 1969 and 2019.

She became the guild's assistant director of speech in 1985 and for many years has led the development of nine graded syllabi in speech as well as speech and drama, including second language speakers, business and performance.

Albury Wodonga Eisteddfod participants will also recognise her as the long-standing convener of the speech and drama program.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Guild chief executive Beth Woollacott, head of performance music and arts management, said the honorary doctorate was based on academic work and also community contribution.

"It's the pinnacle of what we can award," she said.

"It is done with a lot of care and a lot of process to actually really confirm that the person meets those criteria.

"And Jan just meets all of those with flying colours."

Professor Woollacott said the assessment process took about six months and solicited comments from past students and parents.

"Being able to stand up in front of an audience can be life-changing for a child and those are really the kinds of impact that we look at," she said.

Ms Skinner said she was "shocked and surprised and honoured to think that they thought me worthy of it" when she heard of her award.

Having studied speech and drama as a child, teaching became "a natural progression" and her love of it continues today as she guides 18 students aged between four and 17 years.

Any retirement thoughts?

"Not yet, while I can do it and I'm enjoying it and the students are coming," she said.

The Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa for Speech and Drama was awarded during an online ceremony last month attended by students and lecturers from the US, Mexico, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

Ms Skinner said it was important for children to learn speech and drama and how to communicate properly.

"Not to be actresses or actors or anything like that, but just for their own self-confidence," she said.

To read more stories, download The Border Mail news app in the Apple Store or Google Play.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: