Ready to Build Upon Achievements

Jason Lane, new interim dean of the School of Education.

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 11, 2018) — Jason Lane, associate professor and chair of Educational Policy & Leadership, will serve as interim dean of the School of Education for a two-year period, Provost James Stellar announced on Tuesday.

Lane succeeds Robert Bangert-Drowns, who served as the eighth dean of the school from January 2008 to the end of this June. Bangert-Drowns decided to return to the faculty and plans to take research leave over the next year. He will return as full-time faculty in Educational Theory and Practice in September 2019.

"As we approach its 175th anniversary, the School of Education’s commitment to educating students to confront tomorrow’s challenges and creating knowledge to improve practice and policy has never been more important," said Lane, who joined the school's faculty in 2007 and is a widely published scholar in the area of leadership and governance in higher education, particularly as it relates to the emerging relationship between higher education, policy and politics and globalization.

"The work of our faculty, staff and students to advancing human development, improving educational opportunity and confronting equity challenges, is inspiring. I believe the school can be an important catalyst to bring disparate voices, ideas and activities together to work collectively toward improving the world through education."

Bangert-Drowns cheered the appointment. “Over the years, I have gotten to know Jason in a variety of positive ways,” he said. “I have especially appreciated his contributions to our School of Education leadership meetings and to our service on the CASDA Executive Board. I am sure that Jason will bring innovative ideas and a depth of understanding to the school’s leadership.”

Lane's skills have extended to SUNY-wide service. During a leave from UAlbany in 2013-16, he rose to the positions of vice provost and senior associate vice chancellor for Academic Planning and Strategic Leadership. There, he helped guide educator preparation for the system, including managing the Urban Teacher Education Center in New York City, served on the steering committee for the Master Teacher program and co-led the Teach-NY initiative.

Former Dean Robert Bangert-Drowns, who will conduct research in the coming year.

He was also founding executive director of SUNY’s Strategic, Academic and Innovative Leadership Institute that provides professional development to higher education leaders and faculty throughout the SUNY system.

Years of Accomplishment

Bangert-Drowns leaves a School of Education which has made significant strides in the past decade. During his tenure, the school hired 36 faculty members and academic professionals, creating an outstanding cohort of assistant professors and educational experts. An array of new graduate programs and curricular innovations were initiated, including post-baccalaureate certificates in Online Learning and Teaching, Computing Education and International Education Management, and online advanced graduate certificates in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Adolescent Special Education.

A new master’s degree in higher education was begun, as well as online access to doctoral degrees in Literacy and Curriculum and Instruction. Over the past few years, the school has earned a top-10 national ranking for the quality of its online graduate programs in education, as well as maintained a ranking in the top 20 percent of doctoral schools of education in the country.

Two years ago, the school established its first undergraduate program, the human development major, since the 1970s. The major has attracted more than 300 intended and declared majors. A new undergraduate minor in leadership was also created.

During Bangert-Drowns’ tenure, the school supported, sought and obtained the SUNY Distinguished Professor title for three noted faculty: Frank Vellutino, Istvan Kecskes and the late Arthur Applebee.

“The School of Education has a powerful history of research and educational innovation and the prospect for an even more impactful future,” said Bangert-Drowns.

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