Message from the Dean

I am delighted to be back at Carolina. Most of us who are fortunate enough to graduate from here never lose our love for the institution. The faculty and fellow students whom I was privileged to meet and learn from and the hard-earned UNC values of open inquiry and debate set me, as a young man, on a rich intellectual and social journey. It’s good to be back!

I also feel grateful to be an educator. Few professions offer both the challenges and the rewards that education holds. Few offer comparable opportunities to truly make a difference in the lives of others.

We at the School of Education are committed to preparing the best possible leaders in education, helping schools serve all students and families, and conducting research to inform educators, schools, families and policymakers. We are fortunate to be home to some of the top scholars in the nation. These scholars draw on cutting-edge research in their role as teachers committed to the preparation and support of educators, counselors, and researchers. 

Our faculty is also extensively engaged in P-12 schools, strengthening teaching and learning, and leading throughout the state, region and nation. The School’s staff shares and supports the faculty’s commitment to children, families and schools. Equally important, the reputation of the faculty and the School attracts deeply committed, thoughtful and creative graduate and undergraduate students. 

Together, the School’s students, faculty and staff constitute a remarkable educational community that shares a passion for teaching, learning and schools that serve all our children, especially those with the greatest needs. We seek to engage with our colleagues across the University, educators in P-12 schools, families, and people in the business and government arenas. All these people contribute essential wisdom and knowledge to the task of preparing educators to succeed in classrooms and in schools. 

I hope you have an opportunity to visit us—we are eager to tell and show you more about what we are doing.

Bill McDiarmid
Dean