From the Dean: Welcome back!

Welcome back!

As we begin a new academic year, I am excited to welcome each of you back to the Mary Frances Early College of Education. A new year always brings fresh energy and new possibilities, and this year promises to be especially meaningful as we continue shaping the future of our College together.

This year, we will embark on an important strategic planning process—one that will help us imagine where we want to go as a College and identify the priorities, partnerships, and investments that will help us get there. I look forward to hearing from faculty, staff, and students throughout this process and to building a plan that reflects both our aspirations and our shared commitment to excellence.

We will also continue to think about and enact the responsible use of artificial intelligence—in our teaching and learning, in our research and scholarship, and in the many ways AI may help us work more effectively. This is an opportunity not simply to respond to a rapidly changing landscape, but to lead thoughtfully in preparing our students and our professions for the future.

Alongside these larger initiatives, we will implement a number of new university processes designed to make our work clearer, more consistent, and more effective. Change can require patience, and I appreciate your willingness to learn, adapt, and help us improve along the way.

Most importantly, I hope this year brings a renewed sense of connection, purpose, and possibility. The strength of the Mary Frances Early College of Education has always been its people—the staff and faculty who care deeply about our students, our professions, and the communities we serve. What we accomplish this year will be stronger because we do it together.

Thank you for all that you bring to this College. I am grateful for your dedication, your creativity, and your commitment to making a difference. Welcome back. I am looking forward to a great year together!

Denise A. Spangler
Dean