Interim Dean of College of Education, PWL

To: Executive vice presidents, chancellors, vice presidents, vice chancellors, vice provosts, deans, directors, and heads of schools, divisions, departments and offices

From:  Jay Akridge, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity

RE:      Interim Dean of College of Education, PWL

Date:   April 19, 2022

Colleagues,

I’m writing to announce the appointment of Phillip J. VanFossen as interim dean for the College of Education, effective July 1, 2022.

Phil is the James F. Ackerman Distinguished Professor of Social Studies Education and director of the James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship.  He will be stepping in for Nancy Marchand-Martella, who, as previously announced, has accepted the role of provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs for the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

During his 25 years at Purdue, Phil has also served as head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education (2009-2016) and as the college’s interim associate dean for learning (2016-2017).

Phil is an outstanding scholar, educator and proven administrator, and I’m confident that the College will continue to move forward in exciting ways under his leadership as we search for a new dean.

The dean search advisory committee, chaired by Gary Bertoline, senior vice president for Purdue Online and Learning Innovation, plans to hold on-campus interviews for the position in early fall.