Dean's Welcome

We are thrilled to welcome you into our community in the CU Boulder School of Education.

Whether your dream is to be an educator, researcher, community organizer, or something we haven’t yet imagined, we can help you to accomplish your goals. We offercutting-edge teacher preparation pathways, innovative undergraduate programs, and Colorado’s top-ranked graduate school in education.

As a CU Boulder alumna (Jour and Engl ’97) and former high school teacher in Littleton, Colorado, I see my tenure as dean for the School of Education at CU Boulder as a kind of homecoming. I grew up in Colorado and my family has multigenerational connections in the state and in Boulder. This is a special place—this state, this school of education, and this university.

Perhaps you, like me, are attracted to the CU Boulder School of Education’s commitments to social transformation that are at heart of our coursework, field experiences, and research. Those values are deeply rooted in my scholarship, leadership style, and life’s work. Here, you can be a change agent at a time when our society most needs ethical, empathetic, and open-minded leaders and educators.

Our students benefit from the many opportunities that are characteristic of CU Boulder’s large, public, highly regarded research university with a vast network of alumni. Meanwhile, our smaller School of Education provides fertile ground for rich community connections, personalized support, and real-world experiences. Students work alongside community organizations and school partners, who enrich research and teaching. Our graduates meet graduation ready to educate, lead, and work with others to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. 

Our faculty are nationally recognized scholars, who draw from a variety of disciplines— philosophy, literary criticism, sociology, measurement, anthropology, learning sciences and more. We have made significant contributions to research, theory, policy, and practices. And yet, our faculty are approachable, accessible, and thoughtful mentors for students, often forming bonds with students and alumni that continue well beyond graduation.

Today’s education leaders need ample support, knowledge, and experiences to address complex challenges. There is always more work to be done in the pursuit of more just and equitable education policies and practices, and there’s always room for more partners. This work is collective, incremental, imperfect, and ongoing. And, it holds so much potential. 

We are passionate about leading the changes we wish to see in our communities, and we hope you will join us.

Amanda Haertling Thein
Dean and Professor