leadership

Feb 3, 2023

Aaron C. Clark ’97EDD Named Co-Director of NC State’s Engineering Education Program

Aaron C. Clark ’97EDD, who currently serves as head of the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education at NC State’s College of Education, will be the co-director of NC State’s Engineering Education program, effective Aug. 16, 2023. He will work alongside co-director Laura Bottomely of NC State’s College of Engineering and other members of the engineering education community to advance the university's mission of providing top-quality engineering education to its students. 

Feb 3, 2023

Joy Gaston Gayles Named Head of Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development

Joy Gaston Gayles, Ph.D., will be the next head of the NC State College of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development (ELPHD), effective July 1, 2023.  Gayles is currently an Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor of Higher Education and Senior Advisor for Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Education. 

Oct 27, 2022

#WhyIChoseEducation: ‘I Would Like All Students to Have Equal Opportunity to Succeed in Education,’ Says Somanita Kheang

While teaching English part time in Cambodia, Somanita Kheang began to wonder if she could be a more effective educator for her students, some of whom were adult learners. Now, as she conducts research on adult learning while earning her second doctoral degree at the NC State College of Education, she has become a researcher and is having an even greater impact on adult learners and the field of education than she ever expected. 

Jun 1, 2022

Kevin Oliver Named Head of Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences

Kevin Oliver, a professor of learning, design, and technology at NC State’s College of Education, will be the next head of the Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences (TELS), effective July 1, 2022. 

May 24, 2022

Associate Dean, Executive Director of Friday Institute Hiller Spires: ‘Make Sure You Leave a Place Better Than You Found It.’ I Hope I’ve Been Able to Do That in the College of Education.

Institute for Educational Innovation, will retire June 1, 2022, after 35 years at NC State’s College of Education and 43 years in the field of education. In this Q&A, Spires talks about how she ended up at the College of Education, what she’ll miss most about it and how she hopes she is remembered. 

Sep 27, 2021

Outgoing Dean Mary Ann Danowitz: “My Hope is That We Will Never Waver from Being Deeply Connected to Our Land-grant Mission”

Mary Ann Danowitz, D.Ed., will step down as dean of NC State’s College of Education on Oct. 4 after leading the college through five-and-a-half years of unprecedented growth. Danowitz reflects on… 

Jun 1, 2021

‘My Purpose in Life is To Help Others Achieve their Highest Potentials and the Education Field Allows Me to Do That Daily,’ Says Granville County Principal of the Year Courtney Currin ’12MSA

For Courtney Currin ’12MSA, being an educator has always been her life’s purpose. And it shows through her work as principal of Tar River Elementary School, where she was just named the 2020-2021 Granville County Public Schools’ Principal of the Year. 

May 17, 2021

College of Education Dean Mary Ann Danowitz to Step Down in October

After leading NC State’s College of Education since 2016, Dean Mary Ann Danowitz has decided to step down as dean and will return to the college’s faculty in the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development, effective Oct. 5, 2021. During her tenure, the college has experienced unprecedented growth. 

Apr 26, 2021

Nash County Elementary School Assistant Principal of the Year Leo Nieves ‘18MSA: ‘It is My Goal to Help Make the Educational Experience for All Involved a Positive One’

As a first-year teacher, Leo Nieves ’18MSA was afraid to ask for help because he didn’t want to look like he didn’t know what he was doing. That was the biggest mistake he ever made. Now, as assistant principal at Benvenue Elementary School in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, he wants to help other teachers be successful. 

Mar 31, 2021

Nash County High School Assistant Principal of the Year Megan Bain ‘18MSA: ‘I Am Passionate About Supporting Teachers and Helping Students Pursue Their Own Pathway to Personal Success, Happiness and Productive Citizenship’

For Megan Bain ‘18MSA, education was not her intended career. She sort of fell into it. After earning her bachelor’s degree in international studies and Arabic, Bain joined Teach for America after witnessing the experience of one of her best friends in the program. Today, she is the 2020-21 Nash County High School Assistant Principal of the Year.