From the Dean: Appointment of the director of P-12 educator programs

The College is pleased to announce the appointment of Paige Tompkins as the director of P-12 educator preparation. Dr. Tompkins will join the faculty and staff in the Office of Academic Programs as a clinical professor beginning in January. Tompkins has a distinguished history as an administrator, having served as assistant, associate, and interim dean of the Tift College of Education at Mercer University. With extensive experience collaborating with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, Tompkins will serve as the internal and external coordinator of UGA’s P-12 educator preparation programs, interfacing with more than 40 educator preparation programs within our college and other campus units. Tompkins also has years of experience with state agencies and school districts and will assist with state certification, reporting, and communication between UGA, our P-12 partners, and state agencies. Tompkins began her teaching career as a teacher of secondary mathematics. At Mercer, she coordinated the educational leadership doctoral program and secured external funding for teaching fellowship programs.

I appreciate the work of the search committee, which included the following individuals:

• Laura Bierema, Office of Academic Programs
• Sarah Kajder, Department of Language and Literacy Education
• Stacey Neuharth-Pritchett, Department of Educational Psychology
• Denise Spangler, Office of Faculty and Staff Services
• Krista Vanderpool, Office of Academic Programs

Tompkins will report to Stacey Neuharth-Pritchett when both begin in the Office of Academic Programs in January. Please join us in welcoming Tompkins to the College of Education.

Best regards,

Craig H. Kennedy, PhD
Dean and Professor