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    2023-24 Neag School of Education Annual Report

The Neag School of Education stands out as a major contributor to instructional and research excellence at the University of Connecticut, one of the nation’s leading public higher education institutions. With academic departments dedicated to educational leadership, educational psychology, and curriculum and instruction, the Neag School also offers programs in such areas as school psychology; sport management; higher education and student affairs; counseling; and teacher and administrator preparation.

A Message From the Dean

Dean Jason G. Irizarry.
Dean Jason G. Irizarry. (Photo Credit: Carson Fitzner/Neag School)

Thank you for taking the time to visit the Neag School of Education’s 2023-24 Annual Report. Throughout the following pages, we provide an in-depth review of faculty scholarship, national rankings, academic department highlights, media coverage, and much more.

Every year I am increasingly impressed by the dedication and innovation displayed by each member of our Neag School community. Amid the continuing challenges facing the field of education, our faculty, staff, and students have remained committed to our mission to improve educational and social systems to be more equitable, effective, and just for all. Our alumni, donors, and school district partners continue to be our steadfast champions, engaging with and advocating for our student body, building relationships with stakeholders, offering generous contributions, or serving as ambassadors of the School as they excel in their chosen fields. The Neag School would not be the renowned academic and research hub it is today without them.

This year is an exciting time to be a part of the Neag School. We’re celebrating 25 years since the renaming of the School after Ray Neag and all the accomplishments that have been made possible thanks to Ray and his wife Carole. It’s bittersweet that both of them are no longer with us and won’t see this anniversary, but the true celebration in their honor is the work being done every day at the Neag School to continually improve education for all.

My hope is that this report provides you with a glimpse into that incredible and courageous work from the past academic year.

Jason Irizarry signature.

Dean Jason G. Irizarry, Ed.D.
jason.irizarry@uconn.edu
Neag School of Education
University of Connecticut

Mission

The Neag School’s mission is to improve educational and social systems to be more effective, equitable, and just for all. We develop educators, professionals, and scholars; conduct rigorous and relevant research; and engage in reciprocal and responsible partnerships with students, practitioners, policymakers, and community members in Connecticut and around the world.

National Rankings

For the ninth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked UConn’s Neag School of Education among the top 25 public graduate schools of education in the nation.

The Neag School stands tied at No. 24 among public graduate schools of education and tied at No. 34 for all graduate schools of education nationwide.

Read more about the Neag School’s 2024 rankings.

Faculty

  • 78 Faculty Members

  • 2 Endowed Chairs

  • 4 Named Professors

Alumni

24,000+ Alumni Worldwide

Goals

Beyond maintaining its strength in national rankings and celebrating the widely recognized eminence of its faculty research experts, the Neag School of Education and its faculty, staff, and administration are continually improving students’ access to education, pursuing the next level of excellence, and striving to increase engagement among its broad range of stakeholders.

Access

The Neag School of Education is actively expanding access to educational opportunities for its own students, as well as for students across the state of Connecticut.

  • The Neag School expanded its reach in the Early College Experience Program, providing the opportunity to earn college credits to 669 high schoolers in 25 districts, an increase from five districts in the pilot year of 2021-2022.
  • Both the Teacher Certification for Program College Graduates and the UConn Administrator Preparation Program were recently revised to lower costs to students and introduce hybrid instructional delivery. These changes prioritize the needs of students while maintaining both programs’ rigor and standards of excellence.
  • Support for aspiring teachers, sport management professionals, and educational leaders expanded in 2023-2024, with the Neag School providing over $578,000 in scholarships to 323 students.
venn diagram with three circles that say access excellence engagement

Excellence

  • Neag School alumni never fail to shine in their chosen fields, serving as CEOs and coaches, publishing books, and taking on the role of school leaders. Connecticut’s 2024 Teacher of the Year and 2024 Superintendent of the Year are both Neag School alums: Kiana Foster-Mauro ’20 (ED), ’21 MA and Joseph Macary ’94 (CLAS), ’05 ELP, ’16 Ed.D.
  • Widely published and sought-after, Neag School of Education faculty bring their expertise to media outlets around the world, including The New York Times, the Washington Post, ESPN Daily, and EducationWeek.

Engagement

From holding its annual Celebration of Diversity in Education in support of students of color who aspire to careers in education to featuring its faculty in lively panel discussions, the Neag school commits itself throughout the year to connect with prospective and current students, donors, alumni, and the public alike, on as well as far beyond campus.

  • Through the National Holmes Scholars Program, the Neag School has been able to support students from historically underrepresented backgrounds who are pursuing graduate degrees in education.
  • This spring marked the second publication of the Neag School’s first academic journal, the Neag School of Education Journal, an editor-reviewed, open-access publication run by Neag School graduate students.
    • Now in its 31st year, the annual Letters About Literature Contest is co-sponsored by the Neag School of Education and led by Douglas Kaufman. The contest engages students across the state of Connecticut in Grades 4 through 12.

    “Carrying out our mission-driven work at UConn’s Neag School relies on and undeniably benefits from the innovation and diligence of our faculty and staff, as well as the tremendous students here who aspire to shape the future of education. It’s always gratifying to see their hard work and brilliance reflected back and aligning with our own vision and values.”

    — Dean Jason G. Irizarry