Gregory Kelly Named New Dean of the College of Education
Dr. Kelly will begin role on July 1, 2024
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Professor Gregory J. Kelly has been selected as the next Dean of the College of Education, effective on July 1, 2024.
“Gregory brings an outstanding record of accomplishments in educational leadership, research and engagement; his appointment is great news for the entire university. He joins us at an important time for the College and will guide a talented group of faculty, students and staff leading the way through innovation,” says Mike Malone, interim provost and senior vice chancellor of academic affairs.
Kelly has been at Penn State University for 20 years and is currently serving as a Distinguished Professor of Science Education and Senior Associate Dean for Research in the College of Education. Before that, he was a Faculty Leader in the Program of Education in the Department of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has authored over 100 research articles across a range of topics and his recent research has focused on the uses of epistemic practices and tools that can foster student learning in science and engineering education.
“I am thrilled to join the outstanding faculty and staff at UMass, which has an incredible legacy for serving students and the entire region,” says Kelly. “I believe deeply in the mission of making education more accessible and am excited about the opportunities in front of us.”
Dr. Kelly earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from the State University of New York at Albany and a doctorate in Education from Cornell University. He is a National Academy of Education member and the recipient of the NARST 2021 Distinguished Contributions to Science Education through Research Award. He has been recognized as an American Educational Research Association (AERA) fellow, and his contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion were honored by Penn State’s College of Multicultural Leadership, which awarded him the University Faculty Way Paver Award in 2018.
Kelly will succeed Cynthia Gerstl-Pepin as the dean of the College Education who has served in that role since 2017. She will return to the faculty after a research leave.