New Dean Chosen for College of Education

Note: This message was sent by UW Interim President Phyllis Wise on Aug. 23, 2010.

Dear Colleagues,

Phyllis Wise

I am pleased to announce that Professor Tom Stritikus has agreed to assume the position of Dean of the UW College of Education for five years, effective September 16, 2010, subject to the approval of the Board of Regents. Dr. Stritikus is currently associate dean of academic programs and associate professor in Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education. His work in these positions has proven that he is ready to continue advancing the College through his leadership.

I chose to appoint Dr. Stritikus as dean for the normal five-year period based on broad consultation with the College faculty, Dean Wasley, other UW deans, and Dean Ana Mari Cauce, the search committee chair. As I discussed at a recent open meeting with the College, UW paradigms are changing and this is an opportunity to strengthen the College’s position. A full appointment gives Dr. Stritikus time to plan, consult, and implement the College's next steps in these challenging times. In my conversations with Tom, I have been impressed with his experience, enthusiasm, and forward thinking.

Dr. Stritikus has distinct abilities that uniquely place him to meet the College's near-term challenges and to lead long-term strategic planning, building on Dean Wasley’s successes of the last decade. A UW faculty member since 2000, Dr. Stritikus received his Ph.D. in Education from the University of California, Berkeley, in Language, Literacy and Culture. Raised in an immigrant household, Dr. Stritikus has public school teaching experience and an impressive academic background. His work focuses on the context and process of adjustment for immigrant students and the educational opportunities –from a policy and practice perspective—that schools and districts make available to them. Dr. Stritikus received competitive extramural funding for his research from state and federal sources, and has published his work in the top journals in the field of education, including American Educational Research Journal, Teachers College Record, and Education Policy.

The College needs both a high caliber academic scholar and a skilled relationship builder for the deanship. Dr. Stritikus has experience collaborating with teachers, school districts, state policymakers, as well as community organizations and foundations. Community feedback over the past weeks has convinced me that Dr. Stritikus is the best choice to build and strengthen relationships on behalf of the College.

Dean Pat Wasley will be stepping down September 15, 2010, after serving the college as dean for ten years. I am grateful to Dean Wasley for her forward-thinking, creative leadership of the college and wish her well as she begins a well-earned leave. I would also like to thank the advisory search committee, led by Dean Ana Mari Cauce, for their thorough work, which led to this recruitment.

I am proud of the UW College of Education, which is among the top colleges of education in the country. Through discovery, learning, and engagement, the College is transforming education in our city, state, and nation.

Please join me in welcoming Tom as Dean of the College of Education.

Sincerely,
Phyllis

Phyllis M. Wise
Provost and Executive Vice President
University of Washington