Grove City College Education Professor and Department Chair Dr. Constance Nichols ’93 has been named president of the Pennsylvania Deans’ Forum, a professional group made up of deans and chairs of education departments.
The Forum serves as a vital liaison between education program leadership and policymakers, including the Pennsylvania Department of Education, with members representing public and private colleges and universities.
“I am honored to assume this leadership role and look forward to empowering the members of the Deans’ Forum to continue their exceptional service to the field of education,” Nichols said.
Through its work, the Pennsylvania Deans Forum aims to shape and improve the landscape of teacher education in the state and support the work of institutions of higher education to ensure Pennsylvania's schools are staffed with well-prepared, high-quality educators.
From programs that focus on undergraduate initial teacher preparation to large universities with undergraduate and graduate programs spanning professional roles across education positions, the Deans’ Forum provides a unique opportunity for members to network, organize, and advocate for issues of teacher preparation and quality, including recruitment and retention, licensure and standards, and school leadership.
“The Deans’ Forum was incredibly formative for me as a developing leader when I first assumed a position as a department chair. The networking provided through the membership provided me with an incredible wealth of experience and support in navigating the complexities of serving my students, the needs of our PreK-12 partners, and understanding the regulatory compliance issues of a licensure program,” Nichols said.