Erin Thomas Horne ’10PHD Named Assistant Dean for Assessment and Professional Education 

RALEIGH, N.C. — Erin Thomas Horne ’10PHD will be the NC State College of Education’s assistant dean for assessment and professional education, effective July 1, 2020.

“Given Dr. Horne’s experience, relationships, and knowledge with our college, she will bring the passion, partnerships, and continuity we need to continue to be a leader in professional education,” said NC State College of Education Dean Mary Ann Danowitz.

As assistant dean for assessment and professional education, Horne will lead the college’s Assessment and Professional Education units, which includes setting direction for the college professional education activities based on national policy and research trends, provide leadership and supervision for accreditation and assessment reports and for initial and advance licensure processes and requirements; provide leadership and guidance with the development, analysis, and submission of all internal and external accountability and accreditation reports; and oversee all extension activities associated with professional education.

“I am thrilled to continue my work with the College of Education in this new role. As an alumna and Raleigh native, NC State has always held a special place in my heart and prepared me to Think and Do. I am excited to have the opportunity to lead the Office of Assessment and Professional Education in preparing high quality professionals,” Horne said. “My immediate focus will be to critically examine and to engage in change processes to prepare our teachers to be anti-racist educators and disrupt systemic racism.”

Horne has been affiliated with the College of Education for over 12 years, first as a doctoral student and then as a teaching assistant professor whose research focused on beginning teacher success and retention. She later became assistant director and then director of professional education, a position she has held since 2017.

In these positions, Horne was a leader or a key partner in several major initiatives, including helping the College of Education become the nation’s first fully CAEP accredited Research I institution and helping lead the development of the Johnston County Schools, Johnston Community College, and the NC State College of Education’s dual enrollment Associate in Science (Teacher Education Concentration) program.

Horne is also a N.C. Education Policy Fellow through the Institute for Education Leadership, chairs the N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s external Educator Preparation Program (EPP) committee, is a member of the N.C. Educator Ethics Advisory Committee, and sits on the executive board of the NC Teacher Education Assessment Network (NC-TEAN).

Before joining the College of Education, Horne taught at Lincoln Heights elementary School, in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, for five years. She has her National Board Certification and maintains her elementary education and curriculum specialist teaching licenses.