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Professor Emeritus of Media Communication and Technology (MCOM) at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, Elzar Camper, Jr. Ed.D., will be the keynote speaker for the university’s graduate commencement ceremony at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 14, 2012, in Koehler Fieldhouse.  Dr. Camper recently retired from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU), and was a member of the faculty from 1972 until August 24, 2012.  He earned his bachelor’s degree from what was then Bloomsburg State College in 1970, and two master’s degrees – a master’s degree in educational media from Temple University in 1972 and a master’s degree in library science/administration and information science from Rutgers University in 1975.  He received his doctorate in educational media from Temple University in 1983.

Dr. Camper taught more than 25 courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels throughout his career at ESU including “Organization and Administration of Instructional Technology,” “Selection and Utilization of Instructional Materials,” “Communication Theories and Practices,” “Law and Ethics” and “Photography.”  Ten of the courses, including seven MCOM graduate courses, were designed by Dr. Camper.  He co-developed the concept and wrote the joint master degree and instructional media specialist certification proposals for the program shared between Kutztown and ESU, and served for seven years as its first graduate coordinator. He developed MCOM’s proposal for National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accreditation, as well as the certification and degree programs in instructional technology for the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

In addition to his academic contributions at ESU, Dr. Camper also served in numerous administrative capacities including Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs (1986-87) and acting Dean of the School for Professional Studies (1984-85). Dr. Camper served on many campus wide committees including the graduate advisory council, the middle states steering committee, and the teacher education council.  He also coordinated The Harrisburg Internship Semester at the Dixon University Center, and for more than ten years he has served as the chair of the MCOM department at ESU.

During his career, Dr. Camper was a member of the American Council on Education Professional Development Committee, American Association for Higher Education, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the American Society for Training and Development, the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculty, the Broadcast Education Association, the International Society for Technology in Education, the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and teacher Educators, the Pennsylvania Education Technology Expo and Conference and Phi Delta Kappa.

Professor Camper served on accreditation visits for the American Council on Education military credits, National Association for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, and Pennsylvania Department of Education. He won numerous prestigious Fellowships, including ones from the American Council on Education, the Annenberg Washington Program, the Academy for Television Arts and Sciences, and the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters. In 2011, ESU bestowed on Dr. Camper its highest faculty honor, the Distinguished Professor Award, for his nearly forty years of teaching and service to the university.  He has received recognition from the Office of Governor, the Pennsylvania Legislature, Office of the Mayor of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia City Council and School District of Philadelphia for his role as one of the co-initiators of the ESU/Prince Hall Scholarship Program, which continues today nearly twenty-five years after it began. Professor Camper was recognized as a distinguished graduate of Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, alumnus award from Bloomsburg University, and a service award from ESU’s Council of Trustees.

Dr. Camper resides in Plymouth Meeting, Pa., with his wife, Carolyn.  They have two children, Elaan and Elzar, and two grandchildren, Mikayla and Drew.