A Letter from the Dean
Friends and colleagues:
"The best teacher has supreme faith in the improvability of the human race, limitless optimism, and confidence in the ultimate triumph of truth and righteousness." E. B. "Ted" Robert
These words, written over 60 years ago by my grandfather, have inspired me throughout my career and guided me to UL Lafayette seventeen years ago. As a College of Education Dean, he advocated for teacher education and noted that quality teacher education is the method to improve the human race and provide students with their first step toward college. Today, he would be proud to see the College of Education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette not only houses one of the largest teacher preparation programs in the state, but also focuses on educational leadership, school and mental health counseling and a School of Kinesiology with research efforts leading to the improvement in human health and welfare.
The 128 teacher preparation graduates from this past year are leaders in their fields of study and are highly sought after by employers. Most notably, the retention rate of these teachers (i.e. those who keep teaching) is the highest in the state and draws school recruiters from around the country who compete to hire them. Many of the 163 Kinesiology graduates were accepted into graduate schools throughout the country to continue their dreams of becoming physical therapists, occupational therapists or physician’s assistants. In addition to the undergraduates, over the past two years, the College graduated 84 masters in Counselor Education, Educational Leadership, Exceptional Learners and Kinesiology programs, with many having an immediate impact in schools and mental health facilities in Louisiana. Additionally, the doctoral program in Educational Leadership graduated 25 students prepared to enhance educational leadership in Louisiana.
The faculty in the college are dedicated to addressing the fundamental critical issues facing Louisiana through education and health initiatives in the classroom. As we near the end of the university fiscal year, we're grateful for the many people who support the College of Education through private giving. This support is crucial for so many of our efforts, allowing us to support students through scholarships and assistantships, sustain our programs, and develop new initiatives to tackle tough issues in education and health. Your support and investment in the College will pay it forward for future generations of educators and researchers.
So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy the articles. When you are done, please visit our College of Education website to keep up with all the innovative projects in the college.
Nathan M. Roberts, Ph.D., J.D., Dean