Welcoming a new dean
By Jo Ellen Priest Misakian
"The solution to some of our gravest problems lies in reforming the way we educate our children." —Alan Greenspan. The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World
In the summer of 2006, when I agreed to become interim dean of the newly formed School of Education, my wonderful daughter-in-law gave me a bracelet containing items representing elements found in Psalm 23. Carol knew there would be trying times as well as fulfilling moments ahead. Times when I would need to be reminded that, "The Lord is my shepherd..." She was right. I have had experiences both stressful and joyous; leaning toward the joyous side.
The school's commitment to providing an exemplary education, intertwined with the ethical and moral values of the mission and vision of this university radiates, in the words of our provost Herma Williams, a "beacon of goodness and light" throughout this community.
With a collaborative spirit and a dedication to excellence, faculty and staff crafted a future for the school amid a cacophony of educational reform. As Milton Chen, Ph.D., director of the George Lucas Educational Foundation reminds us, 'Change in education must begin with schools of education."
Much has been accomplished and the school finds itself on the cusp of becoming an even more significant force on the community. A permanent dean capable of guiding us into the next phase of growth is a gift. It is time to pass the baton to another. I do so with great pleasure, assured that we—and the community—will be well served.
Gary Gramenz, Ph.D., comes with all the prerequisites of an outstanding dean. Through his K-12 classroom teaching experience, his research, his athletic coaching and his work in South Africa, he has demonstrated his exceptionality. But most important of all is his strong commitment to Christian ethics. As he says: "A Christian philosophy of education must first come to terms with the world in which we live. Creation is an expression of God’s nature and, as a result, is particular and finite. This means that there is something called Truth and that all things exist for a Purpose. This understanding of the world helps guide the educational process as there is no mistake about the fundamental nature of the reality."
Gary will arrive on campus May 19. Please join me in welcoming him.
Battle of the Books
