Chval has superior record of improving diversity and inclusion; has significant research funding support for her work in elementary mathematics education.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – MU Provost Garnett Stokes and Interim Chancellor Hank Foley announced today that Kathryn Chval has been named dean of the College of Education, effective July 1. Chval has been serving as acting dean of the college while Dean Dan Clay had been on special assignment; Clay announced earlier this year that he had accepted a position at the University of Iowa.

What People Are Saying About Dr. Kathryn Chval

“Dr. Kathryn Chval has done an exceptional job as a member of the University of Missouri faculty since 2003. For the past several months, Kathryn has served as our Acting Dean of the College of Education and has displayed outstanding leadership for our College and within the University,” Stokes said. “I, along with many Mizzou Ed leaders, faculty and staff and the broader MU administration, have very high respect and admiration for her. I have no doubt that Kathryn will serve MU and the College of Education exceptionally well. I have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Mizzou education community, and I’m pleased to announce Kathryn Chval as the new Dean of the College of Education.”

“We are very fortunate to have a great leader already in position to lead the College of Education,” Foley said. “In her short time as acting dean, Kathryn Chval has proven that she has the leadership qualities and vision needed to guide the College of Education into the future. Her scholarship and record of embracing diversity comes at a critical time at Mizzou. We look forward to working with her as the college educates the future professionals in education, information, and intervention sciences of our state and country.”

Chval, who was named acting dean of the College of Education in 2015 and is a professor of mathematics education, has been at MU since 2003. During her tenure, Chval has led several inclusion and diversity initiatives to help faculty, professional staff and students initiate a conversation about diversity. Some of her initiatives have included enhancing the undergraduate curriculum to better equip future teachers for teaching children from diverse backgrounds and establishing new social space and associated programming that opened in August 2015.

“Kathryn Chval has been a strong leader for the College of Education, especially in the areas of inclusion and diversity,” said Chuck Henson, interim vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity and equity. “Her work to open the conversation among her faculty, students and staff while simultaneously improving the curriculum will ensure that our education students become the best teachers for students from all backgrounds in schools throughout the nation.”

Chval also has a strong national reputation as a researcher. Prior to joining MU, Chval was Acting Section Head for the Teacher Professional Continuum Program at the National Science Foundation (NSF), where she oversaw a $56 million budget. She has directed or co-directed research teams that received nearly $21 million in funding and has been funded continuously by the NSF since 1995. Additionally, she has authored more than 60 research publications and is the recipient of the prestigious NSF Early Career Award and the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators Early Career Award. Her research focuses on effective preparation models and support structures for teachers, effective elementary mathematics teaching for English language learners, and curriculum standards and policies.

“I am honored and thrilled for the incredible opportunity and responsibility to serve as the Dean of the College of Education,” Chval said. “Everyone in the College of Education—students, professional staff, researchers, educators and other partners—has a valuable contribution to make as we pursue ‘grand challenges,’ the most pressing problems facing the education field. We have a tremendously strong team of faculty, professional staff, and students that provide servant leadership throughout our College, Mizzou, and communities. Together, we will make Mizzou Ed the college that other institutions, educators and policymakers come to for models to scale, answers to problems of practice, collaboration to pursue inquiries that need research and innovation, approaches to strengthen communities, and leadership that provides vision and strategy. We will pursue educational engagement, inclusion, innovation, and solutions, maximizing our national and international impact and visibility, as we contribute to Mizzou’s land-grant and AAU missions.”

“Research at Mizzou encompasses many disciplines, and our College of Education has been on the leading front of research that has direct impact into the classrooms where future generations are taught,” said Mark McIntosh, interim vice chancellor for research, graduate studies and economic development. “As a former program director and section head at the National Science Foundation and recipient of several large grants, Kathryn Chval understands the importance and responsibility we have as scholars to study the latest technology and discover the best methods to help our teachers educate the future leaders of our state and nation.”

MU News Bureau press release of the announcement