Lisa Harrison appointed interim dean of the Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education

51�� Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Elizabeth Sayrs has named Dr. Lisa Harrison interim dean of the Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education, effective May 1.

The announcement follows current Interim Dean Dr. Sara Helfrich’s decision to step down from the role. Helfrich will serve as the founding dean of the College of Education, Social Work and Psychological Services at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

“Dr. Lisa Harrison has the knowledge, experience and leadership to serve as the interim dean at this important time,” Provost Says said. “I am grateful to Lisa for her willingness to move into this role, and I am looking forward to working with her.”

Harrison currently serves as the interim association dean of research and graduate studies for the Patton College of Education, a role she has held since 2022. She also is a professor in the Department of Teacher Education and has served as the middle childhood program coordinator since 2013. She first joined the Patton College and 51�� in 2013.

During her time at 51��, Harrison was selected as a MAC Academic Leadership Development Program Fellow and has received numerous awards for her work, including the Association for Middle Level Education John H. Lounsbury Award for Distinguished Service in Middle Level Education, the Vincent Anfara Jr. Outstanding Middle Level Research Award, and an 51�� Faculty Newsmaker Award. In addition, Harrison is active with several professional boards and organizations at 51�� and nationally, including serving as a member of the Margaret Boyd Scholars Faculty Advisory Board at OHIO, chair of the Board of Trustees for the Association of Middle Level Education, and co-editor of the Middle School Journal.

Harrison earned a Ph.D. in Middle Childhood Education from the University of Georgia, an M.S.T in Adolescent Education from Pace University in New York, and a B.S. in Mathematics from Spelman College in Atlanta.

Helfrich was appointed as interim dean of the Patton College in June 2021, after former dean Dr. Renée Middleton announced that she would step down from the position and return to the faculty.

“51�� has been fortunate to have Dr. Sara Helfrich serving as interim dean, and she has made a strong and positive impact on the Patton College,” Provost Sayrs said. “She has done an outstanding job leading the college during a unique and challenging time for higher education, and we wish her well in her new role.”

Harrison will continue in the interim role until a permanent dean is named.

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