Faculty papers of Samuel Rust, 1966-1992

Dr. Sam Rust Jr., an Emeritus Professor of Education, began his career at Central Washington State College (now Central Washington University) in 1969. He earned both of his bachelor degrees from Western Washington University. He earned his M.Ed. from Central Washington University and his Ed.D. from the University of Oregon. Dr. Rust was recognized by many as “Mr. Special Education” in the state of Washington. His time at Central Washington University greatly contributed to this recognition.

Dr. Sam Rust was instrumental in bringing one of four state-wide Special Education Instructional Materials Centers to Central in the early 1970s. During the 1977-78 academic year, Sam visited and studied Special Education programs in the Washington D.C. area and reviewed enabling legislation nationwide for Special Education programs. He has written and received funding for many Special Education grants at the state and national levels. He was a member of the Special Education Folio Review Committee, has served on teams for the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, reviewed textbooks for Houghton-Mifflin and Merrill Publishing Companies, and testified before the State Board of Education and the Senate Education Committee. On campus, he was faculty advisor to the Handicapped Students Association and to the Student Council for Exceptional Children. He served on many committees and was recognized as the Washington State Special Education Teacher Educator of the Year in 1991.