Worcester, MA-Dr. Russell Quaglia, nationally renowned education speaker and Director of the National Center for Student Aspirations at the University of Maine in Orono, will present "Believing in Achieving: Beyond the Looking Glass," on Thursday, April 13, at 7:00 p.m. at Assumption College. The lecture will be held in the Hagan Campus Center Hall.

Using a scene from Alice in Wonderland as a departure point, Dr. Quaglia refutes the advice of the Chesire Cat who tells Alice that if she doesn't care where she's going, then it doesn't matter which way she goes. On the contrary, Dr. Quaglia believes that students need direction in their lives, and that schools can instill in their students the desire to dream and the tools to realize those dreams through purposeful planning and work. In his presentation, he will share the conditions that need to be in place so that every student, regardless of age or background, can reach their fullest potential. His presentation will also carry implications regarding how schools are organized, the role of educators, and how schools assess students.

As Director of the National Center for Student Aspirations, Dr. Quaglia has traveled extensively throughout the United States and the world, presenting his research based ideas on the importance of student aspirations and motivation.

In addition to appearances on CNN and CSPAN, NBC-TV's Today Show has described Dr. Quaglia as America's foremost authority on the development and achievement of student aspirations. His work has also been published in such prominent media as the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the New York Times, USA Today, Chronicle of Higher Education, and Education Week, as well as numerous professional journals such as Education Administration Quarterly, Journal of Instructional Psychology, Research in Rural Education, and Journal of Psychological and Educational Measurement.

Dr. Quaglia received his Bachelor's degree from Assumption College, a Master of Arts degree in Economics from Boston College, and a Master of Education and Doctorate from Columbia University, specializing in the area of organizational theory and behavior.

His presentation is sponsored by the College's Department of Education, and is free and open to the public. For more information, please call (508) 767-7184