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Vivian Gadsden has been appointed the vice president of the National Academy of Education. Dr. Gadsden co-directs the Penn Early Childhood and Family Research Center.

Vivian Gadsden has begun her new role as the Vice President of the National Academy of Education

Principal Julia Snyder, GED’10, discusses the gains of today and the plans for tomorrow at the Henry C. Lea School in West Philadelphia, one of Penn GSE’s partner schools.

The William T. Carter Professor of Child Development and Education is an expert on at-risk youth, parental engagement, and intergenerational learning.

Dean Strunk says that developing strong partnerships is person-dependent and takes time to build trust and repair past areas that may be lacking in trust.

The alum of the Mid-Career Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership founded a social impact firm advancing youth voice and agency in philanthropic practice.

Eric Hartman asks how colleges can move civics education beyond this hyperpartisan moment.

The alum of Penn GSE's Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management who grew up in a small village of cocoa farmers in Ghana recently built a road to connect children in his village to their education.

Peter Eckel writes for "Inside Higher Ed" about how "presidents should prepare for more active, engaged boards this academic year."

The former Morehouse College President previously led the White House Initiative on HBCUs.

John Silvanus Wilson Jr., a nationally recognized leader in higher education and former president of Morehouse College, has been appointed the next executive director of the McGraw Center for Educational Leadership at Penn GSE.

A proud graduate of Penn GSE’s Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management, Hall comes to the School from Penn’s Division of University Life, where she served as assistant vice provost for strategic planning and operations.

As program leaders pass the baton and celebrate its 25th anniversary, faculty, mentors, and alums all share what makes the program special.

Penn GSE's Global Higher Education Management program is preparing the next generation of university leaders to thrive in a rapidly changing, interconnected world.

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.

Julie Wollman notes that, "The pressures on a president are entirely different from a provost’s, given the public attention, the much heavier stress, and responsibilities," and speculates that Rutgers will choose someone who has already proven they can do the job for their next president.

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.