Spring 2024

Greetings from the Chair

Tom Shields headshot The weather has turned brighter and warmer and the buds on the trees and flowers on our beautiful campus are in full bloom. Those tell-tale signs mean that that spring semester is wrapping up and the pace has quickened toward commencement and end-of-the-year celebrations and activities. As you will see in this e-newsletter, the faculty and staff in Graduate Education are dedicated to creating future teachers and school leaders that contribute to their schools, but also make an impact in society.

Throughout the e-newsletter you will read about the successes and impact of our faculty — both full-time and adjunct — with their teaching, service, and scholarship to the profession. The alumni in our programs have also set a high bar in teaching and leadership, including winning prestigious national awards, such as the Milken Educator Award. Our current students, some of whom are also student-athletes, are learning about the education profession in on- and off-campus experiences.

We realize that to address the programmatic needs of schools in the Richmond region will require us to always be developing and adapting. As you will read, we learn about the most up-to-date techniques and research about teaching and leading from colleagues in Virginia and across the globe. We also listen to our local school districts and have made changes to be more affordable through discounts to our alumni and local educators. If you or someone you might know have questions about applying to any of our programs or about the discounts, please reach out to Ms. Kris Waikart, Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator for Graduate Education Programs, at kwaikart@richmond.edu.

I have said this often and truly believe it — UR Graduate Education is small, but incredibly impactful on a local, state, and global scale.

On behalf of all the faculty and staff of Graduate Education, we hope that warmth and beauty of spring will renew and awaken your spirit.

Best—
Tom
Tom Shields signature
Tom J. Shields, Ph.D.
Graduate Education Chair