Curtis Named College of Education Dean

Date: 9/28/06
Contact: Jay Groves

Illinois State University Vice President and Provost John Presley today announced that Deborah Curtis has been appointed dean of the College of Education after serving as interim dean for the past 14 months. Presley made the appointment after the College of Education Council recommended Curtis' immediate appointment in lieu of a planned search process and in consultation with President Al Bowman and Academic Senate Chair Lane Crothers.

"Dr. Curtis clearly has the respect and admiration of her College of Education colleagues and the entire university community," Presley said. "In her time as interim dean, she displayed exemplary vision and leadership again and again. I am proud she has accepted this position on a continuing basis."

Curtis has been a member of the Illinois State faculty since 1986. She received her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Indiana State University, her master's degree in music education from the University of Illinois and her bachelor's degree in music education from MacMurray College.

Curtis sits on the Illinois State Teacher Certification Board, is a board member of the Tri County Urban League (McLean County Satellite), serves on the Illinois Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Certification Committee and has served as president of the Association of Illinois Middle-Level Schools. Curtis' research interests are in the areas of professional development schools, transition strategies from ninth-grade students, technology standards for Illinois teachers and faculty teaming.

At Illinois State, Curtis has served on six dissertation committees, co-chairing two of them. She has been a member of the Illinois State Board of Education Middle Level Task Force and Professional Development Cadre, an AIMS Liaison to the Coalition of Illinois School Reform Efforts and a Certification Committee Chair for the Association of Illinois Middle Level Schools.

"Illinois has one of the top education colleges in the nation, and we are glad it will be led by Dr. Curtis," Bowman said. "Her credentials and professional experience in higher education are respected across the country, and I am confident she will bring continued success and prestige to the College of Education."

Prior to joining the Illinois State faculty, Curtis was assistant director of the Decatur Area Arts Council, a doctoral fellow at Indiana State University and a music educator at Crestwood School District in Paris, Ill., at Chrisman School District in Chrisman, and at Indiana State University's Laboratory School and Keller Junior High School in Schaumburg.