Elizabethtown College honored the 2024-25 Educate For Service – Service Through Professional Achievement Award recipient Dr. D. Rodney Chamberlain ’74 at the institution’s annual Lefever Lecture on Feb. 6.
Chamberlain was presented with the award, which is among the most distinguished given to alumni of the College who demonstrate a commitment to the institution’s motto, Educate for Service, to open the Lefever Lecture in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center. An Elementary Education major while at Etown, Chamberlain was also recognized at the event with a celebratory video.
“Rod’s unwavering dedication and commitment to improving lives through education exemplifies Etown’s Educate for Service mission,” Elizabethtown College President Betty Rider said. “His impact on countless students nationwide is significant and we are proud to honor both his lasting contributions to the field and Etown.”
Dr. Chamberlain is a career educator, having held leadership roles at prestigious institutions across the U.S., including Associate Headmaster for Academic Affairs at Charlotte Latin School in North Carolina, Head of Schools at Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii, and Dean of Scholastic Affairs at Milton Hershey School.
After retiring in 2020, Chamberlain became the Director of Consulting Services for the Southern Teachers Agency, supporting schools through a team of experts focused on systemic and sustainable progress.
As a distinguished alumnus of the College, where he was a wrestling co-captain and national qualifier, Chamberlain remains deeply engaged, serving on various committees and supporting alumni initiatives. In 2013, he was honored by Etown’s Blue Jay Athletic Association with its Distinguished Alumni Award. He currently serves as a member of the Elizabethtown College Leadership Council.
“I’ve been very fortunate to lead some amazing schools,” Chamberlain said. “As a 17-year-old, I could not have imagined what my life journey, what my career would be about. It’s an amazing thing and it all starts from this Etown foundation of inquiry, exploration, and support.”
After graduating from Etown, Chamberlain went on to earn his Master of Education in Teaching and Curriculum and Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Supervision from Penn State University Capital Campus.
Presented annually since 1966, the Educate for Service Awards recognize alumni who exemplify the foundation of the Elizabethtown College spirit and legacy of education. The awards are categorized into three unique areas: Service Through Professional Achievement, Service to Humanity, and Service to the College.
The recipient of the 2024-25 Educate for Service, Service to Humanity Award will be recognized at the upcoming Ware Lecture on Thursday, April 10. Learn more about Elizabethtown College’s Educate For Service Awards.