We are excited to announce that Professor Nicola Alexander has agreed to serve as interim associate dean for undergraduate education, diversity, and international initiatives effective August 10. She is replacing Professor Michael Rodriguez, who will serve as interim CEHD dean following the retirement of Jean Quam. 

“Nicola will bring a new level of excitement to the senior management team and the college, as well as her expertise in finance, economics, and systems thinking around education equity and accountability,” Rodriguez said. “She is an award-winning scholar and teacher and will provide strong leadership across the college and University.”

Dr. Alexander is a faculty member in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development. She received her doctorate in public administration with a concentration in public finance from SUNY Albany. Her research interests include policy, equity, accountability, the economics of education, and school finance. She is also the immediate past president of the National Education Finance Academy and an associate editor of the Journal of Research on Leadership Education. 

As associate dean, she is responsible for undergraduate education, student services, international initiatives, and the TRIO programs including Student Support Services, McNair, and Upward Bound. She will also provide leadership to the Common Ground Consortium and the CEHD First Year Experience program.

“I welcome the opportunity to serve as interim associate dean for the upcoming year and am thrilled to work with students and colleagues in this new capacity,” Alexander said. “I look forward to leading, listening, and learning from the programs under my purview. These are challenging times, and I am excited to play a part in enhancing the promotion of equity, excellence, and justice across the broader college community.”