School of Education names new dean

Submitted by Tori Tragis
Phone: (907) 474-6438
08/26/04

University of Alaska Fairbanks alumnus Eric Madsen has been named dean of UAF’s School of Education. Madsen has a master’s degree in cross-cultural education from UAF and a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon in the field of education, anthropology and linguistics.

Former Dean Roger Norris-Tull, after serving five years as the chief administrator of the school, will return to faculty status in the School of Education. Before serving as dean, Norris-Tull was a faculty member in rural and science education at UAF’s Dillingham campus.

"Eric Madsen is not only a particularly appropriate choice for the dean of education because of his professional training and experience, but he is also a UAF graduate in the field of education," said UAF Provost Paul Reichardt. "He knows about the educational needs of Alaska first hand, and because of that, he brings a great deal of credibility to the post."

Madsen takes over as dean at a time of great concern about impacts on the delivery of education in Alaska as a result of the federal No Child Left Behind act. In addition, the state faces a severe shortage of qualified teachers in rural districts. As dean, Madsen assumes a leadership role at UAF in meeting the demands for highly qualified educators throughout Alaska.

"The commitment of the School of Education to multicultural populations combined with an emphasis on Alaska Natives is a keystone to advancing UAF’s mission and goals," Madsen said. "The need for a stable and local teacher workforce is particularly acute in rural Alaska."

To help address teacher shortages, the School of Education is collaborating with the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development and public school districts to implement Senate Bill 86, enacted in 2001 to provide an alternate route to certification. SB 86 allows districts to hire candidates who are otherwise qualified but do not have teacher certification, as long as they are admitted to a teacher preparation program.

"UAF is working with a number of school districts and other organizations to provide the programming necessary so the districts can hire these teachers," Madsen said. "We consider this program a service we’re providing to the school districts as well as to the prospective educators." There are currently 20 SB 86 interns enrolled in School of Education post-baccalaureate programs, Madsen noted. "Our other immediate task is to complete the work conducted over the past several years by SOE faculty members and Dean Norris-Tull in preparation for the September accreditation visit by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education," Madsen said.

Madsen has worked for the past 27 years in various aspects of schooling in Alaska, from teaching in a tribally operated K-8 school with 12 students, to being a graduate student instructor on an urban campus.

In addition to his classroom experience, Madsen served as an administrator for the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development where he helped draft interpretations of federal regulations such as No Child Left Behind.

As Title I administrator in the Alaska Department of Education, Madsen worked daily with school districts throughout Alaska to implement requirements of No Child Left Behind.

Madsen is the former director of the Sitka Native Education Program and former director of the Center for Alaska Native Scholars at Sheldon Jackson College. He received his Alaska State Teaching License in 1979 with an endorsement in secondary social science. In 1968 he received his bachelor’s degree in English from Michigan’s Kalamazoo College. His varied work background also includes experiences as a commercial fisherman in Kodiak, principal/teacher in a tribally controlled school in Akiak and UAF field faculty member in Kotzebue.

Note to editors: A high resolution digital photograph of Madsen is available for download at http://www.uaf.edu/files/news/download/releasephotos/Madsen_Eric.jpg.

Contact: Public Relations Specialist Tori Tragis at (907) 474-6438 or tori.tragis@uaf.edu.