Stephanie Salzman to leave as dean of Woodring College of Education at end of school year

Stephanie Salzman, dean of Western Washington University’s Woodring College of Education since 2002, will leave her position at the end of the current 2010-2011 academic year in order to spend more time with her family and to pursue other professional interests.

“Dean Salzman’s leadership of Woodring College of Education has been superlative and exemplary. Western is a leading producer of educators for this state and they are also the best trained and most sought-after teachers and human service professionals in the state,” WWU President Bruce Shepard said.

Since Salzman has been dean of Woodring College, the college’s already prominent reputation in this state has continued to soar both regionally and nationally.

“While my decision to leave Western and Woodring College of Education was very difficult, I am looking forward to new adventures including spending more time with my family,” Salzman said.

“I have truly treasured my work with the extraordinary students, staff, and faculty at WWU and Woodring, and I am proud and grateful for the progress the College has made over the last eight years in meeting the critical need for highly qualified educators and human service professionals in the state of Washington and beyond.”

Under Salzman’s leadership at Woodring College, there have been a number of notable achievements, including a continued emphasis on high-quality teacher preparation programs; a strong commitment to school and community service and a variety of programs that prepare professionals for careers as K-12 teachers, as school administrators and working with human service agencies.

“I deeply appreciate Dean Salzman’s skilled, tenacious and effective leadership of Western’s highly regarded Woodring College. We all will miss Dean Salzman and wish her well as she pursues new endeavors,” said Catherine Riordan, Western’s Provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

Riordan said that she will be discussing possible options for selecting a new dean with Woodring faculty and staff before the end of the month.

Salzman began her career in higher education at Idaho State University as an assistant professor, where she rose to associate dean in 1998. She was named Idaho Outstanding Educator in 2002 and is the recipient of the distinguished teaching award from Idaho State University.

Salzman received her doctorate in counseling and educational psychology with a minor in curriculum and instruction from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif. Her master’s degree is from California State University Sacramento, and she received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California at Los Angeles.

During Salzman’s tenure as dean, Woodring College: reached out collaboratively and effectively to schools and organizations throughout the state; strengthened outreach education programs in Everett, Bremerton and Seattle; supported faculty members’ research and teaching that are recognized both nationally and internationally for innovation and excellence; launched new sustainability education efforts; worked in partnership on a number of mentoring and service-learning programs; and began publishing the well-respected electronic “Journal of Educational Controversy.”

Woodring College also: aligned the Human Services and Rehabilitation Department with national standards; hosted the well-attended reunion for the Campus School; began a professional education program for school superintendents; received numerous grants for important education initiatives; and received high marks during its continuing national accreditation. Also, Woodring College became the academic home for the highly successful Compass 2 Campus mentoring program.

Western Washington University’s Woodring College of Education is recognized throughout Washington, and beyond, as a leader in the development and implementation of programs that prepare outstanding teachers, from early childhood to adult education; educational administration leaders; human services professionals; and rehabilitation counselors. For more information please see the Woodring College website.