Jennifer King Rice

Dean's Message

Benjamin Bulletin Fall 2018

Dear friends of the UMD College of Education,

As I head into my second year as dean of the College, I am pleased to welcome students, faculty and staff to a new academic year, and I look forward to working together as a college community to build on the progress we have made over the past year.  Perhaps our greatest accomplishment last year was starting and finishing our 2022 strategic plan. From Action to Impact: The 2022 Strategic Plan of the UMD College of Education outlines new vision, mission, and values statements for the College and identifies three pillars of action that we will address in the coming years.

Armed with our new strategic plan, this year is really a new beginning for our College of Education community. Our strategic plan charts a course for our collective future – one that builds on our strong track record of cutting edge scholarship in education and human development; our innovative programs designed to prepare the next generation of educators, leaders and scholars; and our strong and valued partnerships with local school districts, state agencies, and national organizations. 

I will be sharing the strategic vision for the College, along with recent highlights from the campus, at an upcoming “Dish with the Dean” reception in Bethesda, Md. If you are a local alumni or friend of the College, I’d love for you to RSVP to join us to learn about the exciting accomplishments underway in the College.

Some of the major milestones of the past year at the College include the following:

  • We launched two new centers – the Center for Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education, and the Center for Educational Improvement and Innovation – that are already making impactful contributions to our campus, state, and national communities.
  • Governor Hogan and I announced a third new center, the Center for Transition and Career Innovation, at an anniversary event for the Americans with Disabilities Act in Annapolis this July.
  • We hosted the inaugural Dean’s Lecture on Education and Society where Dr. John King, Jr., a COE Visiting Professor and former U.S. Secretary of Education, discussed the civic mission of higher education.

This year, we are excited to work collectively to address some of the most pressing issues in education. For example, we are working on efforts to better understand and support the educator pipeline. And we are exploring opportunities to foster greater civic engagement on college campuses and in K12 classrooms. Please consider joining one of our two upcoming events, which showcase our commitment to civic engagement and strategic partnerships that advance the goals of K-12 and higher education.

As we head into fall, I am excited to get to know our new faculty, staff and students! I look forward to another great year at the College of Education.

Regards,

Jennifer King Rice
Professor and Dean of the UMD College of Education