The University of Virginia announced Wednesday that Stephanie J. Rowley, an alumna of UVA, has been appointed the dean of the School of Education and Human Development.
Rowley is provost, vice president for academic affairs and dean at Teachers College, Columbia University, in New York, where she holds a tenured appointment as a professor of psychology and education.
She previously earned both a master’s degree and doctorate in developmental psychology from Â鶹ĆĆ˝â°ć Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.
“I am thrilled to welcome Stephanie Rowley back to UVA,” Provost Ian Baucom said. “Stephanie has a proven track record of improving research infrastructure, supporting faculty and students, partnering with the community, and focusing on diversity and equity – all crucial elements of the School of Education and Human Development’s dynamic future. Stephanie’s strategic acumen is matched by her thoughtful vision for the school’s next steps, and I look forward to working with her.”
At Teachers College, Rowley’s multiple roles allow her to effectively coordinate academic and administrative functions. As provost, she has direct oversight of academic planning, student affairs, international affairs, and research and service centers. As dean, she oversees all Teachers College’s academic departments, and focuses on developing and integrating the research ecosystem across the school, streamlining and organizing existing academic programs, and refining administrative processes.
Rowley broke new ground by hiring Teachers College’s first dean of research. She also embarked on several large-scale interdisciplinary collaborations, ultimately garnering a 12% increase in federal grants. She led a renewed focus on teacher education and partnerships with local and state schools, filling a long vacant position to manage these efforts. Overall, during Rowley’s tenure, Teachers College moved from 9th to 7th in the U.S. News & World Report rankings of graduate schools of education.
“I could not be more excited to join the School of Education and Human Development and return to UVA,” said Rowley. “The school has an incredibly talented group of students, staff and faculty who emphasize research and practice in equal measure to address our nation’s educational, and mental and physical health challenges. I am looking forward to helping this community develop and expand public higher education’s role in shaping our democracy and preparing future educational leaders.”
Rowley previously held several leadership positions at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, including associate vice president for research for social science, arts and humanities; interim chair of the Psychology Department; and chair of the Combined Program of Education and Psychology. In her role as associate vice president, Rowley focused on advancing interdisciplinary scholarship and was responsible for developing major research initiatives across 13 of Michigan’s schools.
“Dr. Rowley consistently impressed the committee with her breadth of experience and authentic leadership style,” said Nancy Deutsch, the Linda K. Bunker Professor of Education and director of Youth-Nex, who served as co-chair of the search. “She attended to the experiences of students, staff and faculty in every response she gave, and her vision includes them seeing themselves as a valuable part of delivering on our school’s mission. She is a leader with a deep commitment to inclusivity, who nurtures interdisciplinary collaborations, and sees the value and promise of a diverse public school of education meeting the needs of our local community, commonwealth and nation. We could not have found a better leader to take us the next stage of our journey.”
