Announcing Christopher Span as Incoming Dean of the Graduate School of Education

March 28, 2024

Dear Rutgers–New Brunswick Community,

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Christopher M. Span has accepted appointment as Dean of the Graduate School of Education (GSE), effective July 1, 2024. Dr. Span is a distinguished scholar, historian, educator, and higher education administrator whose expertise spans the fields of history and education policy. He is an ideal choice to lead GSE, which is New Jersey’s top-ranked graduate school of education and among the top 10 percent in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report, and which recently celebrated a century of national excellence in preparing education leaders.

Dr. Span currently serves the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign—where he also earned his doctoral degree—as a Professor in the Department of Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership. He has had several prominent administrative roles at the University of Illinois over the past decade, including serving as Chief of Staff and Associate Chancellor for Administration and PreK-12 Initiatives, where he oversees strategic initiatives and fosters collaborations to advance the university’s mission. For over a decade, he served as Associate Dean of the College of Education, where his leadership was instrumental in shaping curricular development and overseeing student affairs. Additionally, he served as the Faculty Athletics Representative for the university and the prestigious Big Ten Conference, demonstrating his dedication to academic and athletic excellence.

His scholarly pursuits center on the educational history of African Americans, particularly during the 19th century. He is widely recognized as a leading authority in this field and has authored several influential works, including From Cotton Field to Schoolhouse: African American Education in Mississippi, 1862-1875. He co-edited Using Past as Prologue: Contemporary Perspectives on African American Educational History and has contributed numerous articles and book chapters. In addition to his scholarly contributions, Dr. Span has been actively involved in professional organizations dedicated to studying educational history. He has served as the Vice President of Division F (History and Historiography) for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and as President of the History of Education Society, where he has significantly contributed to advancing the field. Through his research, teaching, and leadership, Dr. Span continues to make profound contributions to the field of education, enriching our understanding of the past while informing the future of education policy and practice.

Dr. Span will succeed Dean Wanda J. Blanchett, who announced her decision to step down after a decade of exemplary service as dean last year. Among many other accomplishments during her tenure, GSE increased in its U.S. News and World Report rankings by 22 positions and made significant progress toward three strategic priorities—STEM Education; Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice; and Effective Teaching and Listening—including the receipt of more than $60 million in external research funding toward those areas and the hiring of new faculty engaged in research in those areas. Dean Blanchett, who also serves as Special Advisor to the Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Equity, assisted in the nationwide search that recruited Dr. Span.

Please join me in welcoming Dean Span and thanking Dean Blanchett for leading GSE through many successes that have benefited our students, the State of New Jersey, and the nation. Please join me also in thanking the GSE Dean Search Committee, led by Senior Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives and Dean of the Mason Gross School of the Arts Jason Geary.

Sincerely,

Francine Conway, Ph.D.
Chancellor and Distinguished Professor
Rutgers University–New Brunswick