The University of Utah College of Education has got itself a new interim associate dean for research. David Stroupe, an academic formerly with Michigan State University, is to quickly step into the role starting July 1, 2025, for a year, per an announcement from the college.
Stroupe isn’t just any old fill-in. His résumé stacks high with over $10 million in grant funding, predominantly from the National Science Foundation. And let's not forget, he recently got the nod as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) this very year. His book, "Growing and Sustaining Student-centered Science Classrooms," snagged the Gloria J. Ladson-Billings Outstanding Book Award, too. That's something worth talking about.
Frankie Santos Laanan, the dean of the college, didn't mince words when talking about Stroupe's appointment. "He has a strong record of research productivity and has a proven track record of successfully securing external federal funding," Laanan said, according to the University of Utah College of Education. She also mentioned that while Stroupe is in place, they’ll be looking for a permanent research dean who will push the college's international research efforts even further.
During what they're calling a "Redesign for Excellence" initiative, the College of Education is to lay out new strategies for the academic year 2025-26. This will likely shape the way the college functions for the foreseeable future. They need someone with Stroupe's background like never before, especially considering his past role driving STEM education at the Usable STEM Research and Practice Hub. "Our faculty, staff, and students serve as leaders in local, state, national, and global research initiatives," Stroupe said, "I am thrilled to support Dean Laanan and the College of Education as we grow our capacity for world-class research that that shapes education policy and practice," as per University of Utah College of Education.
