"Lead by example; love what you do; learn all you can; and laugh a lot," is Dr. Orr's personal and professional philosophy that is deeply embedded in her teaching and relationship with students and co-workers. Ann Orr holds a doctorate in educational studies and a master's degree in educational psychology from the University of Michigan. Her undergraduate degree in education was completed at Michigan State University.
Before coming to Eastern Michigan University (EMU), Dr. Orr taught two years in a residential facility for adolescents with serious emotional impairment (Lansing) and five years as a teacher consultant for grades K-6 (Manchester). Also, she worked for eight years as a senior editor for Children's Technology Review, a publication dedicated to studying and critiquing children’s interactive media. Her higher education teaching includes adjunct positions at the University of Michigan and Madonna University.
Click here to read about Orr's sponsorship of undergraduate students' work "A Collaboration in Assistive and Educational Technology: Department of Special Education, EMU and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, The University of Michigan.
In the short time that she has been at EMU, Dr. Orr has impressed her colleagues and students with her personal commitment to this educational community in all aspects. She has worked with honor students on their honor’s projects, served as a mentor for students preparing their master’s thesis or capstone projects, and directed independent study courses. In addition, Dr. Orr has been an advisor to over 100 students. In recognition, she received an Excellence in Advising Award at the College of Education 2006 Fall Conference.
While volunteering at Mott Children’s Hospital as a consultant to the Mott Family Network’s (MFN) program, Dr. Orr helps bring computers to all patients’ bedsides and facilitates meaningful educational opportunities for her students in the MFN program. She is currently in the process of starting a non-profit organization dedicated to the refurbishment and distribution of computers to low-income schools and families.
Students’ comments reflect the high character of Dr. Orr: “An exceptional teacher for three reasons: her caring manner of instruction, the relevancy of her chosen instructional content, and her comportment as a positive teacher role model”—“Unequivocally supportive of her students.” Dr. Orr’s peers have characterized her: “Whether she is teaching in the classroom, advising a student, sponsoring a student’s research project, or collaborating with her colleagues, her focus is always to identify each person’s talents and how they can be used for the betterment of youth with disabilities.”
Since coming to EMU, Dr. Orr has consistently shown herself to be a caring and inspiring teacher who has immensely influenced her students in a positive way that they immediately found an exemplary model for their teaching career. She truly is an outstanding teacher and most deserving of the Ronald Collins Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching I.