Letter from Dean McCormick

As we prepare education professionals for the 21st Century, we recognize that we have an ambitious task ahead of us: to integrate educational theory, research policy, and practice. With your help, we can provide the resources that meet the demands of such an important mission.

In whatever sphere they distinguish themselves, our alumni are widely acclaimed scholars, professional leaders, and dynamic agents for change.

Never before has your help been able to make such a difference in the School of Education. With an influx of new and highly qualified faculty and a growing student population, a renewed sense of growth and energy is transforming the School.

The return on your investment will be a new generation of scholars fired with a passion to bring their knowledge to succeeding generations of students for years to come.

I invite you to join me as we advance a bold and innovative vision for the years ahead. With your support, we will continue to be a dynamic force in the field of education, preparing tomorrow's leaders, creating unprecedented opportunities, and initiating change in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, throughout the United States, and in other parts of the world.

Christine B. McCormick
Dean

Announcing The Richard J. Clark Memorial Scholarship for Teacher Education

Emeritus Professor Richard “Dick” James Clark, Jr., died at home in Amherst, Mass., on August 10, 2009.

From 1968 until he left to accept a position as the Dean of the College of Education at UMass Boston in 1997, Dr. Clark dedicated his professional life to the UMass Amherst School of Education. For 30 years he served in a variety of positions, including Director of Teacher Education, Associate Dean for Program Development, chair of the Department of Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies, founding Chair of the Department of Teacher Education and School Improvement, special assistant to the Provost, and professor.

Dick retired from the University in 2000 but continued as an enthusiastic UMass volunteer. He had been a member of the School of Education’s Dean’s Leadership Council since its inception in 2007. Dick leaves his wife, Casey, his children, Theodore, Karen and Steve, and their families, and five grandchildren.

In August, Dr. Clark's family requested that contributions in Dick's memory be made to the School of Education. The resulting response from caring and generous alumni, colleagues and friends moved us to consider creating a memorial that would honor Dr. Clark in a lasting and meaningful way.

We are pleased to announce that the School of Education has initiated an effort to raise funds to create the Richard J. Clark Memorial Scholarship for Teacher Education. Once established, this endowed scholarship will be awarded annually to graduate students in the Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies Department.

We hope you will join us in remembering a beloved professor, education leader and friend who had a profound impact on our lives by making a gift to this endowed scholarship fund in his memory.

To support this effort, please click here. For more information, contact Director of Development Jera Jamison at jjamison@educ.umass.edu or at (413) 545-2705. Thank you.