KU hires new dean of education

Colorado State administrator advocates proactive role in state funding decisions

Don’t expect Rick Ginsberg to shy from controversy as dean of the Kansas University School of Education.

Ginsberg, who was announced Monday as the new dean, said he hoped faculty members would play an active role in state issues such as the current K-12 school funding dispute, now being reviewed by the Kansas Supreme Court.

“What I think is really lacking in most states is policy-makers making good decisions based on good data and good information,” Ginsberg said. “All too often, policies get based on anecdotal information. The role of the university is to provide the kind of information that supports decision-making. And there may be some times when you need to advocate.”

Ginsberg, 53, has been director of the School of Education at Colorado State University since 1995. He’ll be paid $160,000 a year at KU when he starts in August.

He has degrees from the University of Chicago and the State University of New York at Albany. He also has worked at the University of South Carolina, University of New Orleans and the City Colleges of Chicago.

Ed Meyen, the education professor who chaired the search committee, said Ginsberg was the right person for the job because of his background in teacher education and assistance with educational policy.

“He brings a good set of experiences,” Meyen said. “He’s been very active statewide in teacher preparation and education reform.”

Ginsberg will replace Angela Lumpkin, who resigned in October 2004 after just more than two years on the job. Lumpkin remains on the faculty but has accepted a visiting professor position for the 2005-2006 school year at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

Fred Rodriguez, an education professor, has served as interim dean since Lumpkin resigned.

text Interim education dean chosen (10-21-04)text KU School of Education dean resigns (10-19-04)text Bio: Rick Ginsberg

Ginsberg has written three books, more than 50 articles and chapters in more than two dozen books. His research and writings cover subjects including school reform, learning disabilities, minorities in higher education, administrator training and school law.

His current research projects include a six-year, $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help public schools meet access and diversity needs. From 2001 to 2004, he led a $300,000 rural teacher preparation project funded by the National Science Foundation.

Ginsberg said he was attracted to the KU job by the School of Education’s reputation.

The school has 600 undergraduate students in five programs and 1,300 graduate studies in 16 programs. It is ranked 20th in the nation among public universities by U.S. News & World Report magazine, and its special-education program has ranked first at public universities for 10 out of the past 11 years.

“I think the school is poised to build on the strengths it already has,” Ginsberg said. “I was really impressed by the people I met there. The support of the School of Education from central administrators is really unparalleled.”

Age: 53New title: Dean, Kansas University School of EducationCurrent job: Director, School of Education at Colorado State UniversityPrevious work experience: Associate professor of educational leadership, University of South Carolina, 1987-1995; co-director of Office of Research, University of South Carolina, 1993-1995; faculty member at the University of New Orleans, 1983-1986; assistant director of the Center for the Improvement of Teaching and Learning at City Colleges of Chicago, 1982-1983.Education: Bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the State University of New York at Albany, 1973; doctorate in education from the University of Chicago, 1983.Family: Wife, Lauri Herrmann-Ginsberg, who will be on School of Education faculty at KU; three children.