Published: Sept. 28, 2023

Kathy Schultz, dean of the School of Education, announced today she is stepping down from the post to return to the school’s faculty, citing the need to help the school move past recent challengesrelated to the departure of four women of color from its faculty.

Kathy Schultz

Kathy Schultz

Schultz will remain as dean of the school through the end of the calendar year.

“My academic career has been centered on my strong commitment to diversity, equity and justice,” Schultz said. “I deeply respect and care for this community, and I believe the School of Education needs to move into the future with a new leader. I will continue to support the work of our school as a member of the faculty.”

Provost Russell Moore accepted Schultz’s resignation and said he would “in accordance with shared governance and in consultation with the faculty, staff and students of the school, begin a process of appointing interim leadership for the school later this fall.”

Moore thanked Schultz for her "conscientious and compassionate leadership"and cited accomplishments that include:

  • Increasing the diversity of faculty, staff and students at the School of Education while embedding diversity, equity and inclusion commitments into all offered courses during her seven-year tenure as dean
  • Committing to scholarship by teaching and advising students as well as publishing academic and public scholarship
  • Co-founding and leading the
  • Serving as elected fellowof the American of Educational Research Association (AERA) andvice president of AERA’s Division K for Teaching and Teacher Education in 2018
  • Leading fundraising and redesign efforts during the School of Education’s move to the renovated Miramontes Baca Education Building in 2020

Moore said he, Schultzand the school’s leadership “remain committed to a culture for the school and the university built on the foundation of diversity, equity and inclusion and carried out with compassion, collaborationand concern.”

Schultz said she will not be commenting further on the matter “in order to allow the school and the campus to focus on the important work that needs to be done this semester.”