While I’m thrilled to take on the role of CEO and President of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), I’m sad to leave a role that I’ve come to love. Being the dean of the School of Education has been one of the great privileges of my professional life, and I look forward to continuing my faculty affiliation here. This is my intellectual home. And you, the SOE community, are my family and will always be.

When I arrived at AU SOE on July 1, 2016, I joined a vibrant community of educators, staff, students, and alumni committed to advancing education to transform society. Those educators quickly made me feel welcome, and we set out on the path to developing and cultivating a school of education committed to innovation, discovery, community engagement, and a deep passion for the scholar-teacher model in higher education. The AU SOE community’s sense of mission and the care and compassion abound at “4801 Massachusetts Avenue” have remained consistent over the years, making this a truly remarkable community. 

Our passion and love for education have not been without impact. We’ve achieved a lot together over the past eight years. We became an independent school, tripled the number of students we serve, hired over 30 new faculty and staff members, launched successful online programs and a summer institute, landed grants and contracts from major foundations, initiated teacher pipeline and residency programs, established new partnerships, secured over $1M for undergraduate scholarships, weathered a deadly pandemic, and developed “a culture” of being an antiracist and inclusive school. At every turn, we have benefited profoundly from our community’s talent, warm collaborations, and a shared sense of purpose. I’m extremely proud of what we have done together and what the school will surely achieve in the future.

I’ve also enjoyed working with our talented and brilliant students. They have taught me so much about resilience and love. Over the years, I’ve observed our students’ determination to achieve their dreams and aspirations while staying authentic and true to their values. They’ve helped move our school forward. It has been a joy to watch cohorts of students become alumni who have become the next generation of educators and leaders. Not a day has passed when I have felt anything less than inspired and moved by our students! 

In the coming months, we can celebrate our accomplishments and plan for the future. For now, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support of the School and its mission. 

With hope and excitement for what waits ahead,

Cheryl