Dr. Mark Isham

Graduate Coordinator
Associate Professor
Education
ED 143
575.562.2260
Mark.Isham@enmu.edu

Academic Background
Ph.D.in Curriculum and Instruction
University of Texas at Austin
B.S. in Social Studies Education
Bemidji State University
B.A. History
Lea College

Scholarly Interests
Curriculum History, Educational philosophies,
Socratic dialogue, Pierre Abelard's life and work.

Biography
Mark Isham was born in Webster City, Iowa, and grew up swimming and fishing in Albert Lea, Minnesota. After receiving his undergraduate degrees from small, regional liberal arts institutions, he taught junior high social studies in Bemidji, Minnesota, where he also served as curriculum writer on an ESEA Title III grant in Bemidji. In 1977, he began his doctoral studies at the University of Texas at Austin in Educational Psychology, but soon transferred to Curriculum and Instruction, where he was fortunate to serve as one of the protégés of Professor O. L. Davis, Jr. In his dissertation he explored the life and work of Hilda Taba, a theorist and practitioner in curriculum development. He arrived in Portales in August 1982 and began teaching at ENMU. He has developed and taught courses in Education Foundations and Secondary Education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He continues to nurture his passions for writing, reading, fishing, and baseball.