Appointment of Dean of the Graduate School of Education

December 20, 2004

Members of the Rutgers Community:

After a year-long national search that produced a large pool of highly qualified candidates, it is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Professor Richard De Lisi as Dean of the Rutgers Graduate School of Education (GSE), effective January 18, 2005. Since July of 2003, Dr. De Lisi has been the Acting Dean of the GSE, a role in which he has provided excellent management and effective leadership for the School. Dr. De Lisi has served the university with dedication and distinction since his initial appointment to the GSE faculty in 1976. In his tenure at Rutgers he has served several terms as Chair of the Department of Educational Psychology, was elected to be the first Graduate Program Director of the Ph.D. in Education program, and has been a key member of numerous important university and school committees.

Richard holds degrees from Catholic University of America and the State University of New York at Buffalo. He has written extensively and is well-respected in the areas of cognitive development and sex-role development, more specifically in the area of gender differences in mathematical problem-solving and spatial abilities. He has approximately 60 published books, book chapters, and refereed journal articles, and about 50 presentations at national and international conferences. Dr. De Lisi was chosen for this appointment because of his commitment to the highest standards of excellence for faculty teaching and timely, relevant education research. He will play the lead role in strengthening and coordinating the university's involvement with pre-K through 12 education throughout the state, in collaboration with local school districts, state officials, and Rutgers faculty from across the university.

I wish to thank the members of the search committee, chaired by School of Management and Labor Relations Dean Barbara Lee, for their dedicated work during this lengthy and comprehensive national search. Please join me in extending warm congratulations to Richard DeLisi as he assumes the Deanship of the Graduate School of Education. For more information on this appointment, please view the press release
(http://urwebsrv.rutgers.edu/medrel/viewArticle.html?ArticleID=4286).

Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey