Jason Lane, International Higher Education Expert, Named Dean of School of Education
Jason E. Lane, an international expert in higher education leadership development, university global strategy, data analytics and systems thinking, has been named dean of the University at Albany’s School of Education (SOE), after serving as interim dean since 2018.
The professor of Educational Policy & Leadership becomes the School’s ninth dean in its 58-year history, succeeding Robert Bangert-Drowns, who returned to the faculty.
Under Lane’s leadership, SOE has experienced a nearly 10 percent increase in graduate student enrollments, continued to expand its nationally top-10-ranked presence in online graduate program delivery, and increased enrollments in its four-year-old Human Development undergraduate major.
A Broad Commitment to Inclusion and Accessibility
Prioritizing the diversification of the student body and a more inclusive academic environment, Lane appointed the School’s first director of Equity and Inclusion and created a diversity task force to advance inclusive initiatives. 2019-2020 was the inaugural year for SOE’s Touhey Family Fellows Program, a donor-funded initiative that provides academic, financial and social supports for graduate student mentors and 25 undergraduate student fellows from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in education and mental health.
In his two years of leadership, Lane has been instrumental in raising more than $3 million from donors and foundations to support student scholarships and other School initiatives. His efforts to strengthen the relationship between the University and local K-12 schools garnered him the 2020 Cooperative Leadership Award from the Capital Area School Development Association and the National School Development Council.
To read the full announcement of Dr. Lane's appointment, visit the School of Education page.
In making the announcement, UAlbany Provost Carol Kim said, “As interim dean since 2018, Dr. Lane has been highly effective in helping to strengthen the School of Education’s programs, faculty, staff and students. We look forward to working with Dr. Lane in the years ahead as we seek collaboratively to continue to enhance the institution’s reputation and impact and to address the many challenges confronting us both now and in the future.”
Well Published, Well Praised
Lane has published more than 75 papers and 10 books on the changing role of colleges and universities, and been principal investigator on more than $20 million in grant projects from such sources as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Carnegie Foundation and U.S. Department of Education. A speaker and consultant in more than 30 countries, he is regularly quoted by both higher education and mainstream media outlets on critical issues in higher education.
Accolades include the Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Education Research from the Association for the Study of Higher Education and being named a Fulbright New Century Scholar by the U.S. Department of State.
Lane joined the University at Albany faculty in 2007. From 2013-16, he served in several leadership positions at SUNY System Administration, including vice provost and senior associate vice chancellor for academic planning and strategic leadership.
“It has been a great privilege to work alongside so many amazing faculty, staff and students as we have continued to advance the School of Education, and to lead this remarkable asset of New York State in strengthening the education and mental health fields in the Capital Region and beyond,” said Lane.