Ball appointed dean of the School of Education

Deborah Loewenberg Ball has been named dean of the School of Education, a post she has held as interim dean since July. Her selection was announced by President Mary Sue Coleman and Interim Provost Edward Gramlich. The appointment, made in consultation with the Compensation, Personnel and Governance Committee of the Board of Regents, will be effective Dec. 16, pending full board approval.

(Photo by Marcia Ledford, U-M Photo Services)

Ball is the William H. Payne Collegiate Professor of Education. Her research has focused on elementary mathematics teaching and strategies to increase its effectiveness. A key area of interest has been the development of ways to analyze the relation between the mathematical knowledge that teachers bring to the classroom, the quality of their teaching and student success. She is principal investigator on the Study of Instructional Improvement, a large longitudinal study of efforts to improve instruction in reading and mathematics in high-poverty urban elementary schools. She also is co-director of the Center for Proficiency in Teaching Mathematics, a research and development center aimed at strengthening professional education of mathematics teachers.

"In her short time as interim dean, Professor Ball has displayed her enormous strengths and leadership skills to work effectively with the School of Education faculty to begin articulating a vision and mission that will be beneficial to the school and to the University at large," Gramlich said. "President Coleman and I are extremely pleased that Professor Ball is assuming the role of dean at a time when leadership in education is of great importance to the nation."

Ball joined the faculty in 1996 as professor in the Educational Studies Program. She was an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor from 2000-03, the highest honor U-M bestows on faculty for contributions to undergraduate education.

Ball came to U-M from Michigan State University (MSU), where she served on the faculty for eight years. Prior to that, she was an elementary classroom teacher for 13 years.

She earned her bachelor of arts degree in 1976, master of arts in 1982, and doctorate in 1988, all from MSU.

"This is an important time for education—in this country as well as around the world,' Ball says. "The research done at our School of Education seeks to understand and develop solutions for the most vexing contemporary problems of educational practice and policy. We know that in the coming decade, stronger links must be built from pre-K-12 through post-secondary education."

"I am honored to have been asked to lead the faculty, students and staff on the exciting and challenging agenda that lies ahead."

Ball has authored or co-authored more than 100 publications and has lectured and made numerous presentations around the world. She has been the recipient of the American Educational Research Association's Raymond B. Cattell Early Career Award for Programmatic Research and the Palmer O. Johnson Award for outstanding published article (2004).