2019 has been a banner year of celebrating milestones for the College of Education. The contributions of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni shine during these momentous occasions, because while we celebrate the opening of a new cutting-edge research space, or the valuable research support provided to our faculty, we know that these events represent the persistence and visionary thinking of people committed to shared goals and the future of education for 21st-century learners and beyond.
As we leverage technology to make education more accessible, however, we understand there's still nothing more important than personal connection. The human element is the difference-maker when preparing education leaders of the future. And the College of Education's people make the difference. Big innovations, bold impact, and breakthrough research are the results.
Case in point is the inaugural Statewide K-12 Computer Science Education Summit that happened in September, bringing together a first-ever assembled community of stakeholders to catalyze a comprehensive plan for world-class teacher and student computer science education in Illinois. The opening of the O'Leary Learning Center is evidence of the strong commitment of our alumni to support collaboration and educational innovation at Illinois. In the 2019 Impact Report, you will read about the Office of Community College Research and Leadership—commemorating their 30-year anniversary of addressing student transitions from high school to community colleges to universities, and the Bureau of Educational Research and its 100-year history of findings and expertise. The common thread among these big, bold achievements: committed people with a passion to positively impact society through teaching, leadership, and service.
Through education, the world advances. At Illinois, we recognize and embrace this as a challenge. Our scholars are developing game-changing online learning and instructional experiences for the digital landscape of tomorrow. We are preparing teacher-leaders and teacher-advocates to continue the fight for diverse and equitable opportunities in the classroom, worldwide. Our investigators are engaging in research that will forever change education. In all things, our people are making a difference.
Yours in Orange & Blue,
James D. Anderson
Dean, College of Education
Edward William and Jane Marr Gutgsell Professor of Education
