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As he steps up his role from executive director to assistant dean for teacher preparation and undergraduate education, Sexton is using what he learned completing his executive doctorate over the last two years to “lean into strategic thinking.”

For this new certificate, the School has partnered with the Association for Talent Development, the world’s largest association dedicated to those who develop and enhance employee knowledge and skills.

Hartman joins Penn GSE as director of the Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management and senior fellow, effective July 7.

On May 17, in the Palestra, Penn GSE commemorated the achievements of the roughly 700 master’s and doctoral graduates at this year’s Commencement ceremony.

The McGraw Center for Educational Leadership hosted Obama’s education secretary for public conversation with Dean Katharine Strunk.

Professor of Practice Andrea Kane emphasizes the importance of educators and school leaders engaging with themselves, each other, and their school communities to navigate district policies, state laws, and complex or controversial topics in the classroom.

Kemi Oyewole’s past studies in economics and organizational structures and experience in the Boston Teaching Residency stoked a passion for improving educator professional development.

Michael Gottfried joined education leaders to address chronic absenteeism, emphasizing the importance of collaboration across schools, communities, and government to break down barriers and improve attendance.

The first-of-its-kind program aims to support university presidents and senior higher education leaders in championing transformation and innovation within their institutions.

This year’s theme, “The Leadership Moment,” addressed significant challenges in the field, from the enrollment cliff to school mergers and acquisitions and speech freedom.

Dr. Lilian Ajayi Ore has worked with the UN, established a foundation advocating for youth and women’s rights, and now works as a research scholar. She says Penn CLO’s practitioner–scholar approach has had a profound impact on her work.

Look back with us at some of the stories that defined 2024 for our community.

Campbell draws on strong educational ties to the Philadelphia region and a depth of experience in educational leadership in his new role.

Julie Wollman emphasized that university presidents now face heightened complexity due to societal shifts, including political polarization and a decline in respectful discourse, and must exhibit strong principles, interpersonal skills, transparency, and a proactive approach to foundational leadership functions rather than reactive crisis management.

Nominations for the 2025 McGraw Prize are now open.

The podcast was recently renewed for a second season after a successful pilot run, and producers are planning an even more engaging and interactive experience for listeners.

Andrea Kane emphasizes "humanizing" opponents by seeing them through a personal lens, fostering respect and empathy. She advocates for setting ground rules and focusing on shared values to promote productive, rather than destructive, disagreements.

Fabiola Lara’s business, tlali•pani, emphasizes providing education to the artisans that they partner with.

Peter Eckel writes that University presidents must actively collaborate with faculty and faculty governance bodies during a crisis to ensure the best outcome for the institution.

Dan Lazar says he constructed the idea of what kind of leader he would be during his time in the educational leadership program at Penn GSE.

South Korean higher ed policy officer and Global Higher Education Management student Yangju Yi describes the master’s program as “eye-opening,” while her policy experience has enriched the class experience for her peers.

Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management student Keith McIntosh shares his journey to Penn GSE and his experience in the program.

As more students plug queries into ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI) tools, it’s time for more faculty and schools to catch up and offer a roadmap on fair and ethical usage.

The McGraw Center's inaugural symposium, led by Cheryl Logan, focused on equipping education leaders with the skills needed to navigate the political landscape, improving student experiences and leader longevity in the field.

Gard developed the Financial Viability Index, a color-coded tool designed to help small, tuition-dependent colleges analyze their financial health efficiently and take actionable steps to avoid closure.

Sigal Ben-Porath recommends clear communication and contextually relevant discussions as strategies for universities to navigate the complexities of free speech on campuses.

Peter Eckel notes the exceptional nature of governance problems at North Idaho College, stressing that institutions cannot endure under poor governance. He highlights the pivotal role of board-president relations, which were notably strained at the college, impacting its operational effectiveness and accreditation status.

Peter Eckel highlights the importance of effective collaboration and open communication between university presidents and their boards to address the evolving challenges within higher education.

Karen Weaver comments on the challenges facing the new athletic director at Arizona, emphasizing the importance of communication among university leadership. She notes the demanding nature of athletic director positions in today's higher education landscape.

Books by Peter Eckel, Sharon Ravitch, and Karen Weaver explore a wide range of topics including university systems in former Soviet republics, successful leadership mindsets, and the money and politics behind college athletics.

Joni Finney believes it's too early to judge PennWest University's success post-merger and advocates for innovative leadership from non-traditional backgrounds to address its challenges.

This is the first time the Visiting Scholars Speaker Series has tied into the “One Book” program, where faculty and students read and explore a book as a community.

School administrators across the country are facing political challenges they might not have expected when they entered education. Sigal Ben-Porath, MRMJJ Presidential Professor, recently offered advice in School Administrator magazine for how superintendents and other leaders can navigate these pressures.

A new year means a new version of the RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings, with the 2024 edition announced yesterday by Education Week. Nine researchers from the University of Pennsylvania made the annual 200-member list, which was created by Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) to gauge the public impact of ed scholars’ contributions.

Look back with us at some of the stories that defined 2023 for our community.

Michael Johanek brought together 20 leaders from around the world to examine the challenges of real-world judgment. 

Nominations are now open for the 2024 McGraw Prize in Education.

In addition to a chaired professorship in her name and a fellowship she helped establish, Clayton leaves behind a legacy of quality education for students from all backgrounds.

Winners Debra Duardo, David Wilson, and Barbara Oakley have transformed learning across all age groups.

In an Op-Ed, Karen Weaver discusses many of the issues college presidents have been facing lately, particularly around their sports programs, and Penn GSE’s efforts to address the gap in the education and training of current college presidents.

Three southern California school districts joined the program in 2022–23 as K–12 leaders navigate unprecedented external pressure. Founded in 1943 and until now concentrated in the Northeast, the Center helps superintendents and leaders work collaboratively to identify professional challenges, share best practices, and provide development opportunities.

The latest survey of college presidents by the American Council on Education shows that higher ed leaders want help with athletics, communications, and school finances. That’s where Penn GSE comes in.

The event launching Penn GSE’s McGraw Center for Educational Leadership set the tone for the Center’s future: gathering great educational minds from across the School along with outside experts to tackle the big issues facing education today.

The jobs of educators are among the most difficult to automate, Dr. James Lester said in a keynote celebrating the launch of the McGraw Center for Educational Leadership, but artificial intelligence (AI) still has massive potential to transform classrooms.

Peter Eckel calls for college leaders to rethink strategic planning to ensure their institution thrives in the face of the pandemic and technological changes.

Now in its eighth year, the March 16 event is organized by the Dean’s office. The keynote speaker is Tamara Greenfield King, Penn’s interim vice provost for University Life.

The annual event draws educators from around the country for a 3-day conference focused on equitable outcomes. Program alum Lawrence P. Ward and Dean Pam Grossman also received awards for their leadership.

Readers came to the Penn GSE website for practical, easy-to-apply advice that resonated in classrooms and communities around the world.

Eight University of Pennsylvania-affiliated researchers are ranked in the top 200 nationwide – and all eight are associated with Penn GSE.

After nearly two years of COVID-19-related crises, superintendents are concerned about burnout for themselves and the educators, staff, students and parents they serve. Penn GSE’s Kandi Wiens presented coping mechanisms from her research studying leaders in other high-stress jobs.