100th Anniversary Microsite Launched!

Our new site highlights Rossier's notable milestones and favorite memories of the last 100 years with an interactive timeline, and features video and written testimonies by alumni and the opportunity to upload your own memories.

The 100th anniversary microsite also showcases the ways in which Rossier faculty, alumni, and students are transforming schools, education, communities, policy, and the world, and it features a special centennial calendar with anniversary events throughout the year.

Check it out!

Dean Gallagher Reappointed

President Steven B. Sample has offered Dean Karen Symms Gallagher another five-year term as dean of the USC Rossier School of Education. She holds the Emery Stoops and Joyce King Stoops Deans Chair.

The reappointment follows a positive review of her leadership of Rossier and encouraging feedback from faculty, staff and students on her successes, Provost C.L. Max Nikias stated.

" Dean Gallagher was praised for her excellent management of the school, which is well-positioned to pursue the next state in the development of its mission statement and implementation of that plan," Nikias wrote in a letter.

Congratulations, Dean Gallagher!

Welcome Back!!

It's back to school time, and we are embarking upon a landmark year ahead! USC Rossier School of Education is celebrating its 100th Anniversary, and we want you to be a part of the festivities.

Click here the new Anniversary Website, highlighting our milestones of the past century and our work to innovate, educate and transform into the next century!!

Significant NSF Grant to Give MfA LA Boost

Math for America: Los Angeles was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation with funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The project, "Math for America: Los Angeles: Improving Student Achievement by Focusing on Teacher Quality, Preparation and Professional Development," will be funded from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2014.

MfA LA, which includes the partnership of Rossier, Claremont McKenna College and Harvey Mudd College, welcomed its first cohort last fall, and is designed to recruit and retain talented math teachers within the public school system. It is headed by Pam Mason. The grant will allow it to accept larger cohorts in the coming years.

BOC Member Nation's Power Influencer

Blair Taylor, President and CEO of Los Angeles Urban League (LAUL) - a Greater Crenshaw Educational Partnership (GCEP) partner - and member of Rossier's Board of Councilors, was selected as one of the nation's 50 "Power and Influencer Awardees" by the Non Profit Times.

"It is indeed a humbling experienced to be recognized with the likes of Bill Gates, Wendy Kopp, Geoffrey Canada, and the others on this list," Taylor said of the award. "That said, it continues to be an honor and a privilege for me to have a role in such an incredible organization as the LAUL."

Get Your Futures in Urban Ed

The new issue of Futures in Urban Ed Magazine is out!

In honor of our centennial, the latest issue highlights the many ways USC Rossier School of Education is innovating, educating, and transforming for the future.

Read it online here.

You can also e-mail futures@usc.edu to subscribe!

Alumna Confirmed!

The U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana (Ph.D. '95) as Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education for the U.S. Department of Education in July

The Rossier Alumna and Pomona Unified School District superintendent spoke at our 100th Anniversary Launch event in June. Congratulations to Dr. Melendez de Santa Ana on her exciting new role.

Kicking Off A New Year

The Rossier School of Education Fall Kick-Off on August 20 brought nearly 150 faculty and staff together to celebrate the start of the new school year and hear ambitious plans for programs, research and partnerships.

The morning included presentations from Dr. David Dwyer on the goals of the new Katzman-Ernst Chair in Educational Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation; from Carrie Harris Allen, the new principal of Crenshaw High School; from the MAT@USC team on the online program's successful launch; and from Dr. Mike Diamond and Dr. Darnell Cole on our global initiatives.

Dean Karen Symms Gallagher offered her vision of the School's future. Read her comments here.

Mary Andres Gets Alum Award

Mary Andres was selected to receive a Widney Alumni House Award to recognize her service and dedication to the university in her work for the USC Lambda LGBT Alumni Association.

The award (along with the President's Award and other Alumni Awards) is given by the USC Alumni Association in September.

Congratulations, Mary!

Alicia Dowd Elected to ASHE

Dr. Alicia Dowd, Co-Director of Center for Urban Education, was recently elected to the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) Board as an at-large member for a 2-year term starting this November.

Congratulations, Alicia!

Same Great Work. Fresh New Look.

Our Center for Urban Education (CUE) has launched its new website where you can read about its various projects and initiatives to enhance equity, and also access a wealth of resources.

In other news
CUE wrapped up the first phase of its work implementing the CUE Equity Model to advance equity in the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District's basic skills education program. Read about it here.

A New Site for CEG

The Center on Educational Governance (CEG) has a redesigned website! It's easier to navigate and sports a whole new look!

Check it out

Five New Faculty at Rossier

We have some impressive new faculty members starting at Rossier this fall!

Dr. Patricia Burch joined Rossier as Visiting Assistant Professor in September. She has been Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Policy Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison since 2003. Her newest work examines the role of private firms as influences in the design and implementation of K-12 education policy and how public education is being transformed "below the radar" by new forms of privatization.

Dr. David C. Dwyer (left) is Research Professor and our first Katzman-Ernst Chair in Educational Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation. He has a 30-year career as an expert in applications of technology for learning at Apple, Apex Learning and KD Learning.

Dr. Alan Green (right) is Associate Professor of Clinical Education and School Counseling Program Lead. He joins us from Johns Hopkins University where he was chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Services.

Dr. Katharine Strunk (left) is Assistant Professor of Education and Policy. She comes to us from UC Davis where she was Assistant Professor of Education Policy for the School of Education.

Already known to many is Dr. Kenneth Yates, who is now Associate Research Professor, after serving as Senior Research Associate for Rossier's Center on Cognitive Technology since 2004.

Alumnus To Help Head State Community Colleges

Dr. Manuel Baca (Pd.D. '98) was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the 17-member California Community Colleges Board of Governors, which sets policy and provides guidance for the system's 72 districts and 110 colleges.

Baca has worked as a dean, vice president and interim president at Rio Hondo, where he is a full-time tenured faculty member teaching political science, business management and business law. He previously worked at Cal State Fullerton and has been on the Mt. San Antonio College board since 1999. He also served on the California Community College System Strategic Plan Steering Committee in 2005.

Rossier Ed.D. Alumni have fabulous successes

School District Runs on Trojan Power
The doctorate of education program at the USC Rossier School of Education has been transforming one Southern California school district - administrator by administrator and teacher by teacher - into a success story for urban public education. Read the story

Ed.D. Student Appointed Dean of ATEP

Ed.D. Student Rocco J. Cifone was appointed to Dean of Instruction and Student Services at the Advanced Technology & Education Park (ATEP) in Tustin. He served at Saddleback College for the past 8 years, most recently as Dean of the Division of Fine Arts.

Ed.D. Student named Superintendent

Byron Maltez, a second year Rossier Ed.D. student, was just named Superintendent for Local District 4 in LAUSD.

"See, going to USC pays off!" he wrote in a recent email to Rossier colleagues.