Northern Arizona University - College of Education

Northern Arizona University
College of Education
PO Box 5774
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5774
(928) 523-2611

Message from the Dean

Welcome to the website of the College of Education at Northern Arizona University. I invite you to browse the site to learn more about our programs, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as research activities and other services.

In 1984, the Arizona Board of Regents designated the College of Education to be the Center for Excellence in Education in recognition of the important role of the unit in reaching out to the entire state. While we are now known as the College of Education, the spirit of innovation, partnership, and leadership that was launched with the designation as a center for excellence is still alive here. You will see evidence of this spirit throughout the work of the College.

The College of Education is the unit primarily responsible for preparing professional educators at the university. In collaboration with other colleges, we have articulated this vision: “Our vision is to prepare educational professionals who create tomorrow’s opportunities.” In addition to preparing future teachers, we prepare counselors, school psychologists, and administrators. Our vision involves drawing on the best practices of the past, experimenting with and researching new ideas, and helping professionals to accept their roles as leaders in education. Our mission is to prepare competent and committed professionals who will make positive differences for children, young adults, and others in schools.

The College is committed to opening doors to higher education while providing high-quality learning experiences for all our students. In some cases, this means bringing educational opportunities to rural Arizona communities. In other cases, this means creating alternative certification opportunities for place-bound adult learners or on-line programs to enhance professional skills and knowledge. In still other cases, opening doors means bringing pre-college young people to the mountain campus for them to realize that they, too, can be part of a university community. We have a long-standing commitment to Native American students and are consistently among the national leaders in graduating Native Americans from our programs. At the same time, we strive to serve the increasingly diverse population of Arizona. Through a variety of partnerships and grant programs, the College is working to make the dream of becoming a teacher, counselor, psychologist or administrator a reality for Arizonans who previously thought such opportunities were unattainable for them.

We guide our work by this image of our graduates: learning professionals committed to student success in changing environments. The values that inform this perspective include the following: learner-centered education, commitment to diversity, advocacy, life-long learning, and inquiry and innovation.

I invite you to explore the possibility of collaborating with the faculty and staff of the College of Education. For further information, please contact my executive assistant:

Penny Medina
NAU College of Education
Box 5774
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5774
(928)523-7145

Thank you for your interest in the College.

Sincerely,
Daniel L. Kain
Dean