July is here, which means I have officially begun serving as your acting dean for the next year.
I am excited for this time of transitioning fully into this role, and I look forward to truly digging in by engaging with my colleagues throughout the college and by representing our college across campus and beyond.
This will include attending meetings of the Council of Chicago Area Deans of Education and the Illinois Association of Deans of Public Colleges of Education, where I am ready and eager to listen, learn and participate as your ambassador.
Doing so will help equip me to advance two of my goals, which include continued support of the development of teachers through our innovative PLEDGE program along with boosting our efforts to address the teacher shortage and the retention of teachers.
By the time we come back together Tuesday, Aug. 22, for our fall All-College Meeting – and I can’t wait to gather with everyone that morning in the Regency Room of the Holmes Student Center to kick off the new semester on an energetic note – I also will have begun furthering the priorities identified in our newly refreshed Strategic Action Planning Framework.
Until then, I hope that everyone is enjoying a wonderful summer, practicing self-care and observing the three R’s: rest, recharge and rejuvenate.
See you in August,
Bill
