Faculty News

91ɫ�� education scholars to discuss new books at upcoming 91ɫ�� events

Hannah Fletcher — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 16:42:13 +0000

91ɫ�� education scholars to discuss new books at upcoming 91ɫ�� events Hannah Fletcher Tue, 09/02/2025 - 10:42

Books, events to explore faculty and alumni commitments to centering compassion and justice in education and while sharing tangible resources for educators, school leaders, activists, allies and more.

91ɫ�� School of Education faculty and alumni will be featured in two upcoming author events at the 91ɫ�� Book Store this fall. Both events highlight some of the innovative ways 91ɫ�� education scholars are working to support and study the development of more compassionate, inclusive and just schools.

On Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m., alumna Ashley Potvin (PhDEdu’18), research associate at the Renée Crown Wellness Institute, and Bill Penuel, distinguished professor in the School of Education’s Learning Sciences and Human Development program and faculty fellow with the Crown Institute, will present their new book, “Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities: Leading Together to Address Everyday Suffering in Schools.”

If you go

Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities

Ashley Potvin & Bill Penuel
Tuesday, Sept. 9 | 6:30 p.m.
91ɫ�� Book Store, 1107 Pearl St.

Tickets

Queer Justice at School

Elizabeth J. Meyer
Thursday, Oct. 16 | 6:30 p.m.
91ɫ�� Book Store, 1107 Pearl St.

Tickets

The book, co-authored by Sona Dimidjian, professor and Crown Institute Director, and Thupten Jinpa, Tibetan Buddhist Scholar and founder of the Compassion Institute, examines how educators across roles, including teachers, counselors, mental health professionals and school leaders, can work collectively to cultivate compassion and dignity in school environments.

On Thursday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m., Elizabeth J. Meyer, professor in the School of Education’s Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice program, will discuss her new book, “Queer Justice at School: A Guide for Youth Activists, Allies, and Their Teachers.”

Written for secondary students and their adult allies and grounded in scholarship, the book offers resources, case studies and strategies to advance gender and sexual diversity in schools. Meyer also situates LGBTQIA+ justice within broader coalitions for equity, addressing intersecting injustices including racism, ableism, colonialism and classism.

Both events will take place at 91ɫ�� Book Store, 1107 Pearl Street.

Tickets are $5 (plus a small processing fee).
Each ticket includes a $5 coupon redeemable for a copy of the featured book.
To request accommodations, contact events@boulderbookstore.com.

Both events and books showcase the scholarship and community impact of 91ɫ�� scholars, and they reflect the School of Education’s ongoing commitment to advancing compassion and justice in education.

School of Education faculty and alumni will be featured in two upcoming author events at the 91ɫ�� Book Store. Ashley Potvin and Bill Penuel will present their new book, “Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities" on Tuesday, Sept. 9, and Elizabeth J. Meyer will discuss “Queer Justice at School” on Thursday, Oct. 16.

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Meet Dean Amanda Haertling Thein and her full-circle journey to becoming dean of the 91ɫ�� School of Education

Hannah Fletcher — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 20:27:01 +0000

Meet Dean Amanda Haertling Thein and her full-circle journey to becoming dean of the 91ɫ�� School of Education Hannah Fletcher Tue, 08/12/2025 - 14:27

As the new Dean of the School of Education, Amanda Haertling Thein recently returned to the 91ɫ�� campus—a homecoming for the alumna.

Thein grew up in Colorado and attended 91ɫ�� as an undergraduate. In this Q&A, she reflects on her path from high school teacher to educational researcher and higher education leader. She is a nationally recognized scholar in English and literacy education with a passion for educational democracy, which aligns with the School of Education’s mission and public scholarship.

Learn more about Dean Thein’s deep ties to Colorado, her call to serve the state, and what excites her most about leading the school into its next chapter.

Q: How did you come to 91ɫ��, and eventually, into the field of education?

I am from Colorado, and I grew up in Centennial. I went to 91ɫ�� as an undergrad and had an amazing experience. I really loved to read when I was in high school—really, my whole life—so that’s what drew me to being an English major. I love to write as well, so I also majored in journalism with a focus on public relations. I even had a part-time job in CU’s Office of Public Relations, where I interviewed faculty about their work. Later, I was a summer intern with the Foundation for 91ɫ�� Valley Schools, and that sparked my interest in education.

Near the end of my undergraduate experience, I realized I wanted to be an English teacher, which for some reason had not occurred to me! I went to the University of Denver for teacher licensure and a master’s degree and taught English and advised the newspaper at Heritage High School in Littleton for three wonderful years. While finishing my master’s, I realized how much I loved the intersection of research, theory, and classroom teaching. I realized I was going to miss reading theory and empirical research. My advisor encouraged me to pursue a PhD and to consider a career as a professor in education.

He also encouraged me to find an advisor who was studying what I was interested in, which was how we teach literature to students from a range of backgrounds. That led me to the University of Minnesota to study with Richard Beach. From the start, I was in St. Paul classrooms observing, interviewing, and learning about how students respond to literature. I became passionate about research during my doctoral program, and I also learned a lot about academia and mentorship. My advisor took me to conferences, wrote with me, and introduced me to other scholars. I found it absolutely invigorating to be studying what was happening in classrooms.

Q: Was there something about education research that drew you in, especially after teaching?

As a teacher, I was driven by daily challenges and my relationships with students. Teachers are invested in the lives of students holistically, not just in terms of how they’re doing in your classes. It’s incredibly rewarding, but it’s way more than a full-time job. It’s hard to slow down to engage in research and study what’s happening in a classroom.

I think education needs both: excellent teachers continually improving their practice and scholars studying what happens in classrooms and communities.

Q. Your journey as a faculty member has moved into higher education leadership. How did that come about?

After my doctorate, I became a tenure-track assistant professor specializing in literacy education and mentoring doctoral students at the University of Pittsburgh, which was a great experience. Then I moved to the University of Iowa, which brought us closer to family and gave me rich research opportunities in rural and suburban schools.

The dean invited me to serve as associate dean. I hadn’t planned on administration, but I found I enjoyed shaping college-wide policies, supporting faculty and grad students, and improving student experiences. I worked on program development, policy equity, and graduate education. It was fulfilling in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

I was fortunate to have a dean who saw my potential and he encouraged me to think about other roles on campus. Then, I became Dean of the Graduate College and Associate Provost for Graduate and Professional Education at Iowa. I wanted to know more about how the whole university functioned, and I also wanted to support the experiences of graduate students. I had an amazing experience as a graduate student, but I knew there were other students who didn't. I aimed to create a student-centered experience for grad students. That role really taught me how to be a campus citizen and how to advocate for students across the institution.

Q. What drew you back to 91ɫ��?

91ɫ�� shaped who I am. I had a challenging, meaningful undergraduate experience here, and it stretched me in all the right ways. I wasn’t actively seeking this role, but the idea of leading the School of Education at my alma mater was always in the back of my mind.

What makes 91ɫ�� special to me isn’t just my personal connection. It’s the kind of work happening here. The faculty are deeply engaged in educational equity and democracy through meaningful community partnerships. That’s the kind of work I care about. I also believe deeply in the mission of public flagship research institutions to ensure that research meets the needs of people in the state and the region. I see people at 91ɫ�� forwarding that mission in so many exciting ways, especially in the School of Education.

Q. What are your priorities in your first few months?

First and foremost, I want to learn and listen. I want to understand the school’s history, its programs, and its people—faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners. I want to hear what’s important to them. That will lay the groundwork for a collaborative visioning process. I have ideas, but visioning needs to be shared work. I also want us to think about how we align resources with our goals and continue leading in publicly engaged, community-connected scholarship.

Q. Let’s shift gears. What do you love doing outside of work?

I’m a lifelong reader. I especially love fiction and listen to audiobooks constantly—walking my dog, commuting, doing chores. I also love to hike, walk, do yoga, and cook. I read that everyone needs a creative hobby. Cooking has become my creative hobby. I’m always checking the New York Times cooking app for ideas.

And I’m thrilled to be near my family again after 24 years away. My siblings live in Denver, and my parents are in Parker. It's such a gift to live close to them and to be able to see family, and then come back to my own house that night. I love that my children are able to see their cousins on a regular basis. So I'm leaning into that, and I'm reconnecting with some of my lifelong friends.

Q. What’s it like walking across campus now as a dean having once walked those same sidewalks as a student?

It’s amazing. I couldn’t have imagined this as a student. I was recently in a meeting across campus and I took the long way back just to walk around. I remembered living in Hallett, Arnett, and Kitt West. I love thinking about the many memories I have of being here. I rode my bike to campus a couple weekends ago, and I remembered the places where you're supposed to dismount your bike—such a rule follower.

I'm just struck by how beautiful the campus is. I don't remember paying a lot of attention to how beautiful the Flatirons were when I was an undergrad, but it just takes my breath away now. I couldn't be more thrilled to be here.

Q. Anything else you want to add?

Just how grateful I am. The people in the School of Education have been so welcoming, and I feel lucky every day to be here. 91ɫ�� is as inspiring as I remember, maybe more.

I'm amazed to be surrounded by so many people who care about this university and school the way that I do and I hoped people would. I can't wait to lean into the future of the 91ɫ�� together.

Aren’t we fortunate too! Welcome, Dean Thein.

As the new Dean of the School of Education, Amanda Heartling Thein recently returned to the 91ɫ�� campus—a homecoming for the alumna. Thein grew up in Colorado and attended 91ɫ�� as an undergraduate. In this Q&A, she reflects on her path from high school teacher to educational researcher and higher education leader and what excites her most about leading the school into its next chapter.

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Your 91ɫ�� Guide to AERA 2025

Ichigo Takikawa — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 23:05:17 +0000

Your 91ɫ�� Guide to AERA 2025 Ichigo Takikawa Tue, 04/08/2025 - 17:05

Each year, the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting represents the world's largest gathering of education researchers and is a showcase for groundbreaking, innovative research. The 2025 AERA Annual Meeting will take place in Denver from April 23 to 27. The theme for this year’s meeting is “Research, Remedy, and Repair: Toward Just Education Renewal.”

Our faculty, students and alumni will be busy presenting, learning and exchanging ideas. Use this guide to follow and support 91ɫ�� researchers and their work. This year, we have current 91ɫ�� faculty and students featured in over 80 sessions!

AERA Colorado Reception

Attending AERA or in the local area?Join Colorado colleges and schools of education for the AERA Colorado Reception in Denver

April 26 at 7 p.m.

Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center

Enjoy food, drink and good company. Please register to join, non-AERA attendees and guests are welcome.

See the full 91ɫ�� AERA guide

In addition, Professor William Penuel will present the 2025 Wallace Foundation Distinguished Lecture on Saturday, April 26. His lecture, titled “Education for Flourishing: Building Initiatives and Partnerships for More Just and Sustainable Futures,” looks into how education systems, traditionally shaped by scarcity and exclusion, can instead be rooted in abundance, compassion, and dignity. He highlights work at the Renee Crown Wellness Institute at 91ɫ�� aimed at creating just and sustainable futures by engaging youth in culturally relevant learning, strengthening family-school connections, and nurturing compassionate educators.

91ɫ�� School of Education faculty and students participation at this year’s AERA in Denver include:

41 faculty, 31 graduate students, 1 undergraduate student
21 roundtable sessions
24 paper sessions
18 symposia
9 poster sessions
6 research projects being presented were funded by Women Investing in the School of Education grants
4 invited speaker sessions
2 mentoring sessions
1 offsite visit and 1 business meeting for the Grassroots Community and Youth Organizing for Educational Justice SIG

Each year, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting represents the world's largest gathering of education researchers, and it showcases groundbreaking, innovative research. Use this guide to follow and support 91ɫ�� faculty and students and their work at AERA in Denver April 23-27 — including over 80 sessions led by 91ɫ�� researchers!

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Cutting half the Department of Education’s staff will have devastating, possibly illegal, consequences: expert

Hannah Fletcher — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:59:52 +0000

Cutting half the Department of Education’s staff will have devastating, possibly illegal, consequences: expert Hannah Fletcher Fri, 03/14/2025 - 08:59

Recently, the U.S. Department of Education announced it was terminating nearly 2,000 of its roughly 4,000 employees. Both Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and President Donald Trump have signaled that they ultimately want to close the department completely. Kevin Welner, education policy scholar in the School of Education sees many reasons to worry in the new cuts.

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What DOGE’s recent Department of Education cuts could mean for researchers, educators

Ichigo Takikawa — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:51:04 +0000

What DOGE’s recent Department of Education cuts could mean for researchers, educators Ichigo Takikawa Tue, 02/18/2025 - 14:51

Daniel Strain , Nicholas Goda

Recent cuts have targeted the Institute for Education Sciences, the main research arm of the Department of Education, which collects data and funds research on what works in education. Read on for insights from Derek Briggs, professor of education and director of CADRE at 91ɫ��.

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The power of being seen: Melissa Braaten on teaching, equity, and impact

Maddie Rudolph — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:09:17 +0000

The power of being seen: Melissa Braaten on teaching, equity, and impact Maddie Rudolph Wed, 02/12/2025 - 11:09

Maddie Rudolph

Meet Melissa Braaten, an associate professor focusing on science education and teachers' learning and the new Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Teacher Education. Braaten has been at 91ɫ�� since 2016, and before that, she was on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin and taught grades 5th through 12th for more than 14 years.

Braaten knew that she wanted to be a science teacher right away in college.

“I was motivated to be a teacher because I appreciated how my own teachers created learning experiences that helped me to expand my horizons, and I wanted to be a person who could do that for another generation of students.”

She notes that once she began teaching, she became deeply aware of the inequities and injustices that are a part of our society and schools. Her main focus as a teacher, teacher educator, and scholar is to work to change structures and build a more equitable and just world.

When considering what kinds of impact her own teachers had on her life, Dr. Braatan noticed one common thread: “Teachers who really recognized something specific in who I am and then connected some aspect of school to my life were the teachers who made a big impact.”

Braaten recalls her middle school literature teacher letting her choose books written by women focusing on women’s rights, and her high school government teacher intentionally making flawed human rights policies in model UN projects knowing that she would find the flaws and fight them.

“Each of these teachers took moments to know me, see me, and let me know that they heard me,” she said. “It mattered a lot for expanding my horizons. I'm still in touch with many of those teachers!”

Braaten is poised to be that kind of mentor for her students in teacher learning and STEM education programs at 91ɫ��. Get to know more about Braaten and her passions inside and outside the School of Education here.

In her own words:

Can you recall a time when you felt proud of your decision to become a teacher?

“My most proud moments come from seeing my own former students as they flourish and find their paths in life. I felt very proud as a teacher in Texas when I was able to stand alongside my students as they created a Gay-Straight Alliance and fought against the school district's policy banning such student organizations. I felt proud when I worked with formerly incarcerated youth in South Seattle who persevered and insisted on their right to a high-quality education. I've never cheered so loudly as I cheered at the graduations where youth and their families celebrated walking across that stage. Those are the moments that make me most proud to be a teacher.”

What do you like to do during your free time?

“I love to go camping and hiking with my partner, Nate, so Colorado is the perfect place for us! We also like to spend time with friends where we live in Denver. We love to cook and eat together with our neighbors. We are big sports fans so we always try to go to soccer, basketball, baseball, and hockey games supporting Denver teams.”

What’s one thing you’re willing to spend way too much on?

“I'm willing to spend way too much for tickets to a Denver Nuggets game!”

Meet Melissa Braaten, an associate professor focusing on science education and teachers' learning and the new Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Teacher Education.

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Two 91ɫ�� professors elected to prestigious National Academy of Education

Hannah Fletcher — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 21:48:40 +0000

Two 91ɫ�� professors elected to prestigious National Academy of Education Hannah Fletcher Thu, 02/06/2025 - 14:48

Two faculty members in the 91ɫ�� School of Education, Derek Briggs and Kevin Welner, have been elected to the esteemed National Academy of Education (NAEd), the Academy announced in January.

NAEd members are elected based on outstanding scholarship or leadership related to education. Briggs and Welner join a group of just 22 national and international colleagues elected to the Academy this year.

“I am delighted that two of our 91ɫ�� colleagues have been recognized among the highest honors in education," said Fernando Rosario-Ortiz, interim dean for the School of Education.

Joe Polman, associate dean of research, added: “Drs. Briggs and Welner are leading experts in their areas of study who continue to push our understanding of the impact of educational policies and practices—from the meticulous work that Dr. Briggs uses to scrutinize methodological approaches to evaluating student growth to Dr. Welner’s creative and determined focus on bringing high-quality research to bear on closing opportunity gaps.

“We know they will be invaluable contributors to the Academy.”

Drs. Briggs and Welner are leading experts in their areas of study who continue to push our understanding of the impact of educational policies and practices -- from the meticulous work that Dr. Briggs uses to scrutinize methodological approaches to evaluating student growth to Dr. Welner’s creative and determined focus on bringing high-quality research to bear on closing opportunity gaps.” — Fernando Rosario-Ortiz

Briggs is a professor in the Research Evaluation and Methodology program, where he is also the director and founder of the Center for Assessment, Design, Research and Evaluation (CADRE). He joined the faculty at 91ɫ�� in 2003, and his research focuses on advancing methods for the sound measurement of student learning and for evaluating the effects of educational interventions on student achievement.

As a nationally renowned psychometrician, or someone who studies the measurement of students’ knowledge and abilities, and CADRE director, Briggs works with states and education leaders to provide technical advice on the design and use of large-scale student assessments. He is also an American Educational Research Association (AERA) Fellow and past president of the National Council on Measurement in Education.

“Prof. Derek Briggs is among the foremost leaders in the measurement field today,” said nominator Edward Haertal, professor emeritus at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, who agreed to share his perspective. “He is an enormously talented, multifaceted scholar engaging fundamental issues in measurement, identifying questionable practices and assumptions and pointing the way toward solutions...His election would add luster to our Academy.”

Welner is the director of the National Education Policy Center and is a research professor in the Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice program in the School of Education, where he has been on the faculty for 25 years. Welner has written and published extensively on opportunity gaps, educational reform, charter schools, private-school vouchers, ability grouping, school finance, and the area of interplay between education policy and the law. He is a former practicing attorney and the co-author of textbooks used in law schools and schools of education to teach education law. He is an AERA Fellow as well as a Senior Fellow of the Learning Policy Institute. He is also chair of the Board of Trustees of the Education Law Center.

“Professor Kevin Welner’s research contributions are unique in combining careful policy analysis on the use of the law in education with empirical social science analysis,” Polman added. “He is also one of the most skilled public communicators of education policy research in our field. Through their hugely influential work, he and his colleagues have literally changed misguided conversations in this country about ‘achievement gaps' into more productive efforts to identify and address educational 'opportunity gaps.’”

Briggs and Welner join four 91ɫ�� colleagues who are also members of NAEd: Rubén Donato, Margaret Eisenhart, Bill Penuel and Lorrie Shepard, who is a former NAEd president.

Carol Lee, current NAEd president, welcomed members to the Academy in a news release, adding they will join peers in making an indelible impact on education scholarship.

“Education, broadly conceived, is foundational to preparing students across ages to navigate the complexities of our democratic experiment in governance, the increased interdependence of our modern world, productive workforce participation, and their personal development as humans,” she said.

“Our distinguished colleagues now joining the National Academy of Education bring the range of expertise and commitments needed for our field to update itself and wrestle with these complexities continuously.”

Founded in 1965, NAEd is an honorific society that “advances high quality education research and its use in policy and practice.” Members serve on expert study panels that address pressing issues in education, and they engage in professional development fellowship programs.

Two faculty members in the 91ɫ�� School of Education, Derek Briggs and Kevin Welner, have been elected to the esteemed National Academy of Education (NAEd), the Academy announced recently. NAEd members are elected based on outstanding scholarship or leadership related to education. Briggs and Welner join a group of just 22 national and international colleagues elected this year.

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Supporting rural readers and teachers

Hannah Fletcher — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 20:19:33 +0000

Supporting rural readers and teachers Hannah Fletcher Thu, 02/06/2025 - 13:19

Get to know Elizabeth Dutro, the new Bob and Judy Charles Chair of Education

Last fall, Elizabeth Dutro was appointed to the Bob and Judy Charles Endowed Chair of Education—calling it one of the greatest milestones of her career.

That’s saying a lot for Dutro, who is a nationally respected expert in humanizing literacy teaching and learning. Her scholarship has been lauded with several national awards from organizations like the National Council of Teachers of English and prominent 91ɫ�� honors like the Provost Faculty Achievement Award, 91ɫ�� Faculty Assembly Teaching Excellence Award and Best Should Teach Award.

Dutro, who joined the faculty in 91ɫ�� School of Education in 2005, is consistently recognized as a wonderful mentor for both students and other faculty members.

Her work explores how difficult life experiences can inform literacy instruction that centers students’ knowledge, and her partnerships with teachers include opportunities for teachers to learn together in ways that complement their daily work and relationships with students.

Over the years, I have witnessed with admiration how this chair has empowered colleagues and mentors I deeply respect and admire to advance their scholarship, foster meaningful partnerships with schools and communities, and support opportunities for doctoral students. It is truly humbling to step into this role and continue building upon their legacy.”

More recently, her project, “Designing Responsive Literacy Instruction with Rural Elementary Educators: A Professional Development Partnership” with literacy studies doctoral student Olivia Cox, aims to build sustainable, collaborative relationships with rural elementary educators, specifically in Strasburg, Colorado. The project supports teachers in professional learning that is locally grounded, continuous, and tailored to the community’s needs.

Dutro’s work in eastern Colorado provided a kismet connection between her scholarship and the passions of Bob Charles, a long-time supporter of the School of Education who endowed the only active faculty chair in the School of Education with his wife, Judy, in 2004.

Charles’s interest in supporting teachers, particularly rural educators, was inspired by his wife Judy, an education alumna who devoted her career to teaching and, later, volunteering in their children’s schools.

“I know how much Judy loved teaching—it was in her blood—and I’ve always respected the work teachers do,” Charles explained.

Charles, who splits his time between Colorado and Arizona, sees special opportunities to strengthen rural education in both states. He has heard about the rise in remote and online learning in rural areas, but he is reluctant to consider online learning as the solution.

“Nothing compares to having a teacher sit down with a student and go over the work face-to-face,” he said. “I have just always felt the rural students are not getting the education they are entitled to.”

Dutro has rural roots in southeast Colorado’s La Junta, where her maternal side of the family goes back five generations. While she did not grow up in the area, she spent many summers and holidays in La Junta making memories with her family. She notes, when she visits the area, she is not known as “Professor Dutro” but rather her mother’s daughter and one of the many Klein cousins.

“Bob Charles’s commitment to supporting education research in rural Colorado deeply resonates with me,” Dutro said. “I feel incredibly fortunate that my career brought me back to Colorado, where I and my own children have been able to spend meaningful time with our large, loving extended family.

“A few years ago, with support from the School of Education’s place-based seed grants, I achieved a long-held goal of expanding my research to a rural region of the state. Over the past three years, Olivia and I collaborated with teachers and administrators at Strasburg Elementary School on a literacy partnership, creating a rewarding and impactful project that builds on my deep ties to rural Colorado.”

Those connections and opportunities have provided fertile ground for Dutro to understand the teacher-partners she works with in Strasburg, a town of around 2,500 people. Through the responsive literacy projects, Dutro and Cox engage with local teachers who act as “knowledgeable collaborators” working through professional development that integrates equity-focused literacy practices and the Science of Reading, an approach to teaching reading that is required in state policy aiming to improve reading achievement for young learners.

Dutro and Cox’s goal is to collaborate with school partners to enact instructional changes mandated by policy in ways that amplify teachers as knowledgeable experts and center children’s identities and strengths as literacy learners.

The five-year Bob and Judy Charles Chair appointment will support Dutro in deepening her work in rural Colorado and supporting education students with similar interests.

Dutro notes she is truly honored by the chair appointment, and the fact that she follows in the footsteps of other outstanding education scholars, including Margaret Eisenhart, Kathy Escamilla, and Ruben Donato.

“Over the years, I have witnessed with admiration how this chair has empowered colleagues and mentors I deeply respect and admire to advance their scholarship, foster meaningful partnerships with schools and communities, and support opportunities for doctoral students” she said. “It is truly humbling to step into this role and continue building upon their legacy.”

Elizabeth Dutro has been appointed to the Bob and Judy Charles Endowed Chair of Education— calling it one of the greatest milestones of her career. That’s saying a lot for Dutro, a nationally respected expert in humanizing literacy teaching and learning. Dutro’s work in rural Colorado provided a kismet connection between her scholarship and the passions of Bob Charles, who endowed the faculty chair with his wife and alumna, Judy Charles.

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Amanda Haertling Thein named incoming dean of the School of Education

Hannah Fletcher — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 17:20:55 +0000

Amanda Haertling Thein named incoming dean of the School of Education Hannah Fletcher Fri, 01/17/2025 - 10:20

Provost Russell Moore announced his appointment of Amanda Haertling Thein as dean of the School of Education, effective July 1, adding: "Dr. Thein has the leadership acumen, commitment and vision for launching the upward trajectory of the School of Education in a time when research in education and education policy, and the preparation of the next generation of educators, couldn’t be more critical."

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The Conversation: What would it mean if President-elect Trump dismantled the US Department of Education?

Hannah Fletcher — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 21:19:35 +0000

The Conversation: What would it mean if President-elect Trump dismantled the US Department of Education? Hannah Fletcher Thu, 11/21/2024 - 14:19

Donald Trump stated during his comeback campaign that he’d dismantle the education department if elected. 91ɫ�� education policy expert Kevin Welner weighs in on the past and potential future of the Department of Education in this piece in The Conversation.

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Faculty News

91ɫ�� education scholars to discuss new books at upcoming 91ɫ�� events

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Meet Dean Amanda Haertling Thein and her full-circle journey to becoming dean of the 91ɫ�� School of Education

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Your 91ɫ�� Guide to AERA 2025

91ɫ�� School of Education faculty and students participation at this year’s AERA in Denver include:

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Cutting half the Department of Education’s staff will have devastating, possibly illegal, consequences: expert

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What DOGE’s recent Department of Education cuts could mean for researchers, educators

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The power of being seen: Melissa Braaten on teaching, equity, and impact

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