Dr. Nathan Roberts is ending his service as dean of the College of Education at the 小蝌蚪APP.
Dr. Paula Montgomery will become the college小蝌蚪APP檚 interim dean until Roberts小蝌蚪APP successor is named. She will return to UL Lafayette in her new role beginning July 1. Montgomery, the college小蝌蚪APP檚 former associate dean and a professor, retired from those positions in 2020.
She first joined the 小蝌蚪APP in 2002, as a faculty member in the college小蝌蚪APP檚 . Montgomery spent 17 years in the Iberia Parish School System in a variety of roles, including as a teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal and principal.
She holds a doctorate in educational leadership and research and a master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in educational administration from the 小蝌蚪APP of Southern Mississippi. Montgomery is also an alumna of UL Lafayette, where she earned a master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in guidance and counseling and a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in social studies secondary education.
Roberts was appointed dean of the College of Education in 2016. He joined the 小蝌蚪APP as a faculty member in 2001. Roberts will return to the classroom, where he will teach a variety of courses, primarily master小蝌蚪APP檚 and doctoral courses, covering subjects that include K-12 and higher education law. Another focus will be writing policy related to state and national education issues.
小蝌蚪APP淣athan小蝌蚪APP檚 many years of service and leadership has enabled the College of Education to evolve in many innovative ways, and we小蝌蚪APP檙e pleased that he will continue to elevate our students and the 小蝌蚪APP,小蝌蚪APP said Dr. Jaimie Hebert, UL Lafayette provost and vice president for .
As dean, Roberts has been a driving force in the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 ongoing progress to . The not-yet-named lab school will provide its students with an education that relies on model teaching methods and an innovative curriculum. The 小蝌蚪APP of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors approved the concept, and it received state legislative approval.
Under his guidance, the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 Learning is for Everyone, or , has flourished. It gives students with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities an academic foundation, work experience and social opportunities. Students enroll in classes designed specifically for them, and audit regularly scheduled classes with other 小蝌蚪APP students who mentor them. The program began in 2014 with four students; that number is now 31 students.
Roberts has also steered the College of Education to a new name. The college is now the College of Education and Human Development, a change that has been approved by the 小蝌蚪APP of Louisiana System and the Louisiana Board of Regents. The new name will be fully implemented during the Fall 2022 semester.
小蝌蚪APP淭he College of Education and Human Development better reflects the scope of the college小蝌蚪APP檚 mission, evolution and programs. In addition to our range of undergraduate, master小蝌蚪APP檚, doctoral and certification programs for education majors, the college also houses the School of Kinesiology and the Department of Counseling, for example,小蝌蚪APP Roberts explained.
小蝌蚪APP淭he college is evolving rapidly and that will only continue going forward,小蝌蚪APP he added.
Roberts小蝌蚪APP return to the classroom 小蝌蚪APP and Montgomery小蝌蚪APP檚 assumption of the interim deanship 小蝌蚪APP is one of several leadership changes within the college.
Dr. Shuichi Sato has been named interim director of the . He is also an associate professor in the School of Kinesiology. Sato replaces Dr. Gregg Davis, who accepted a position at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge.
The 小蝌蚪APP will conduct a national search to fill the College of Education小蝌蚪APP檚 deanship.
Photo caption: From left are Dr. Nathan Roberts, Dr. Paula Montgomery and Dr. Shuichi Sato. Photo credit: 小蝌蚪APP