Christopher Span has been appointed dean of the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University in New Jersey, effective July 1.
Dr. Span currently serves as a professor of education policy, organization, and leadership at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on the educational history of African Americans, which led him to authoring From Cotton Field to Schoolhouse: African American Education in Mississippi, 1862-1875 (University of North Carolina Press, 2014).
In addition to his academic work, Dr. Span has held numerous leadership positions with the University of Illinois including chief of staff, associate chancellor for administration and preK-12 initiatives, and associate dean for graduate programs in the College of Education. He has held leadership roles with various professional organizations as well, including vice president for the American Educational Research Association, president of the History of Education Society, and president of the Black Faculty and Academic Professional Alliances.
“I am absolutely thrilled about becoming the next dean of the Graduate School of Education,” said Dr. Span. “The GSE’s legacy of excellence, its esteemed faculty, its vibrant student body, its ever-growing impactful research enterprise, and supportive alumni are truly impressive. Together, I am confident we can further enhance the school’s reputation as a leader among leaders in the field of education.”
Dr. Span received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.
