The University of California, Santa Barbara has announced that a prominent educational psychologist and seasoned administrator will become the new dean of the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education (GGSE).
Jane Close Conoley, dean of education at Texas A&M University since 1996, will take office at UC Santa Barbara on Jan. 1, 2006.
Conoley currently heads the university's College of Education and Human Development. In almost a decade of service she has helped build the college's national reputation and significantly increase its outside funding. With more than 3,800 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students, the college is highly ranked and has one of the largest student enrollments in teacher education and school psychology in the nation.
Prior to joining Texas A&M, where she is a faculty member, she was a professor, department chair, and associate dean for research and curriculum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
"I am absolutely delighted that Dr. Conoley has graciously accepted our offer to be the next dean of the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education," said UCSB Chancellor Henry T. Yang. "She was the number one candidate, by consensus, of the search committee.
"Not only is she well-known for the depth and impact of her research on school psychology, she also has a fantastic track record for improving the quality and reputations of the schools she leads."
"I look forward to the challenges and opportunities presented by the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education," said Conoley. "The school and the university are on the fast track to preeminence in a number of important scholarly fields. I am excited to have the chance to be part of that journey."
Chancellor Yang added, "She is open, personable, and communicative---valuable assets in a strategic planner and collaborator. Dean Conoley has also proven to be a strong fundraiser and effective with lawmakers."
While at Texas A&M Conoley has overseen more than $18 million in research projects to date as principal investigator.
"Jane is a terrific hire," said Executive Vice Chancellor Gene Lucas. "She has the experience and qualifications to lead the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education to new heights. I am greatly looking forward to working with her to accomplish this."
The author or co-author of 20 books, 33 book chapters, and 30 professional journal articles, Conoley's research interests tend to focus on school-based mental health programs, increasing school safety, and family/school partnerships. She has written widely on how to intervene effectively with disabled and seriously emotionally disturbed and aggressive children.
She is also well known for her work in psychological and educational measurement and served for 12 years as an editor of the Mental Measurements Yearbook series, which is published by the Buro Institute of Mental Measurements. Conoley is a Fellow in both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society.
"The Gevirtz Graduate School of Education is excited to welcome Dr. Conoley to our school's community," said GGSE Acting Dean Gale Morrison. "We look forward to working with her in taking our next steps toward excellence in scholarship and preparation of educators and psychologists."
"I want to especially thank members of the search committee, led by Division of Social Sciences Dean Melvin Oliver, for their thoroughness and patience in this search," said Yang.
In making the committee's recommendation, Dean Oliver told Chancellor Yang that Conoley "is a strong scholar, an exceptional leader, and a prolific fundraiser."
The Gevirtz Graduate School of Education has approximately 400 graduate students. It is one of two professional schools at UCSB.
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