Dr. Mary Jane Bradley is New Dean, College of Education and Behavioral Science
JONESBORO – Dr. Mary Jane Bradley has been selected to be the next dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Science at Arkansas State University. She is a veteran faculty member and administrator at A-State.
“Dr. Bradley steps into the position of dean at an important time for Arkansas State and for the College of Education and Behavioral Science,” Chancellor Tim Hudson said. “We look forward to her leadership.”
Dr. Lynita Cooksey, provost, announced Bradley's selection today. The appointment takes effect July 1.
“Dr. Bradley’s passion for Arkansas State, the College of Education and Behavioral Science, and her wealth of experience will make her a strong leader for the college,” Cooksey said. “She has deep roots as an alumna and her knowledge of A-State as a faculty member will make her acclimation to the dean’s position brief.”
Bradley is assuming leadership of one of A-State's older academic colleges, which enjoys a reputation for preparing thousands of professional educators.
"I am excited about serving as the Dean of Education and Behavioral Science, my alma mater," Bradley said. "I look forward to working with the A-State faculty, staff, administration, and students within the college and the unit as well as public schools, community and other stakeholders as we move forward with accreditation renewal, reviewing curriculum and programs, and implementing innovative ideas."
A faculty member at A-State since 1987, Bradley has been serving as director of Professional Education Programs and the professional licensure office within the college. She also holds academic rank as associate professor of education.
Bradley has authored or co-authored numerous articles in professional publications, and she has made presentations for organizations such as the Association of Teacher Educators, Mid-South Education Research Association and the Arkansas Association of College for Teacher Education.
Among her professional activities, she served as president of Arkansas Association of Teacher Educators, president of the Arkansas Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, and chair and member of numerous college and departmental committees. She also is active in Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Delta Kappa, professional honor societies in education.
The Missouri native completed her doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction at the University of Memphis. Her specialist degree in educational administration, master's in reading, K-12, and bachelor's in elementary education are from Arkansas State.
More than 3,800 students were enrolled last fall in the A-State College of Education and Behavioral Science, which includes the departments of Teacher Education; Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Special Education; Health, Physical Education and Sport Sciences; and Psychology and Counseling.
Also included in the college are professional outreach and service areas: the Education Renewal Zone, Childhood Services, Rural and Delta STEM Education Centers, Behavioral Research and Evaluation, and Professional Education Programs.
A total of 33 degree programs at the graduate and undergraduate levels are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. In addition, programs in counseling, undergraduate and graduate degree programs are accredited by specialized agencies for those disciplines.
Bradley and her husband Frank have two children, Jason Bradley and his wife Misty, and Jessica McCanless and her husband Mike, and a granddaughter, Adalynn Bradley.
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