EMU Today

YPSILANTI –  Ryan Evely Gildersleeve, dean of the College of Education at Eastern Michigan University, has been named an Impact Academy Fellow by the national non-profit organization Deans for Impact (DFI). He joins a cohort of leaders chosen for their commitment to improving educator preparation.

Gildersleeve is one of 24 leaders announced as part of the fellowship’s eighth cohort. Fellows lead traditional and non-traditional educator-preparation programs reaching 25 states and the District of Columbia. Collectively, these institutions annually serve nearly 15,000 future teachers, 45% of whom identify as people of color.

Educator-preparation programs today face complex challenges as they recruit and prepare teachers who are equipped to engage PK-12 students in rigorous, equitable, and affirming learning experiences. More than ever, the field needs leaders who can strengthen and diversify the educator workforce. DFI aims to fill this need through its Impact Academy fellowship, which has empowered more than 130 dean-level leaders to-date with skills, knowledge, and strategies to prioritize instructional quality and build more equitable systems of teaching and learning.

"I'm honored to be selected by Deans for Impact and to engage in leadership development dedicated to social justice,” said Dean Gilderseeve. “I'm especially proud to continue learning how to best support the College of Education's commitment to addressing major social challenges facing education today."

Fellows will participate in monthly learning sessions, receive one-on-one coaching from seasoned leaders, and engage in peer consultancies to address field-facing challenges in real-time. They will hone their ability to engage faculty, staff, communities, and PK-12 partners in a shared vision for transformative change, grounded in a deep scientific understanding about how students learn.

“For the eighth year in a row, we welcome a diverse group of outstanding leaders to Impact Academy who are steadfast in their commitment to ensuring all PK-12 students access well-prepared teachers,” said Valerie Sakimura, executive director of DFI. “As communities respond to shortages of skilled educators, there is no more crucial time to ensure that we're building pathways into teaching that are accessible, practice-based and focused on equitable instruction. Leaders in educator preparation play an essential role in charting the future of the teaching profession.”

To learn more about this year’s Impact Academy cohort, visit: https://deansforimpact.org/impact-academy-2023-cohort/

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 14,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.

About Deans for Impact (DFI)
DFI is a national non-profit organization committed to ensuring that every child is taught by a well-prepared teacher. DFI supports educator-preparation programs to bring the science of learning into teaching practice; partners with policymakers to ensure pathways into teaching are accessible, practice-based, and focused on instruction; and equips leaders with the tools to address today’s most pressing challenges in educator preparation. Guided by principles of learning science, DFI aims to help aspiring and early-career teachers create rigorous and inclusive classrooms where all children thrive. For more information, visit deansforimpact.org.

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