Leadership

Dean & Professor

Fouad Abd-El-Khalick has served as dean of the School of Education since July 2016. Abd-El-Khalick also holds the title of Professor of Science Education. He is a leading researcher on the nature of science and in particular its teaching, learning, and assessment in K-12 settings, as well as integration into preservice and in-service science teacher education. He has published extensively in science education and has held leadership positions in the field. He joined Carolina after 16 years at the University of Illinois, where he won awards for his teaching. Among his service, Abd-El-Khalick has served on N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper’s Governor’s Commission on Access to a Sound Basic Education.

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Director of Graduate Studies

Dr. Able’s areas of expertise include early childhood, special education, interdisciplinary collaboration, teacher preparation and translational research with a focus on campus community collaborations, ethics and special education, and empowering families who have children and youth with disabilities with a particular focus on autism. She has received many interdisciplinary personnel preparation grants from the U.S. Office of Education focused on collaborative teaming initiatives between special education and the allied health professions.

Assistant Dean for Finance and Operations

Dean’s Fellow for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Dr. Griffin researches parent involvement and school-family-community partnerships. She believes that collaboration can be better achieved when school stakeholders are multiculturally competent, aware of their biases and preconceived beliefs, and understand the different complexities of families and parenting. To this end, she also researches inequity issues in education. She believes that school counselors should be leaders in bridging the gap between historically marginalized families, schools, and communities in order to build stronger relationships, collaborations, and increased effectiveness when working with culturally diverse students and their families.

Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development

Dr. Hamm’s research interests center on early adolescents’ social, behavioral, and academic adjustment, and the role of peer relations in successful school adaptation. She has applied her research findings to the development and testing of professional development programs designed to help middle school teachers create supportive learning environments for their students. Dr. Hamm currently directs or co-directs several research studies that involve creating professional development programs and examining their efficacy and utility for middle school teachers and their students.

Assistant Dean for Student Affairs

Dr. Harris has over 10 years of experience in higher education and student affairs. She has served in leadership roles on regional and national committees for the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). Her research interests include multiracial identity development, student engagement and leadership. She believes in the holistic development of students and cultivating meaningful experiences that will support their academic, personal and professional goals. She is committed to working with faculty, staff and students to ensure programs and support systems are in place to help students thrive while they are in college.

Assistant Dean for Development

Terri Jackson joined the School of Education in 2022 as Assistant Dean for Development. She leads the External Relations Team, which is charged with advancing the mission of the School through engagement, events, marketing, communications, and fundraising. Before returning to her alma mater, Terri spent 10 years as Senior Director of Development for the School of Education at UNC Greensboro. She has over 30 years of fundraising experience and is committed to the belief that education is the most powerful tool we have to change lives and lift societies.

Assistant Dean of Educator Preparation and Accreditation

Dr. Lys leads educator preparation, program assessment and accreditation efforts in the School. Her work sits at the intersection of program outcome research and high quality program development. Dr. Lys has 15 years of higher education experience in educator preparation and taught in North Carolina public school for more than seven years.

Executive Assistant