Kathleen is an associate professor and director at the School of Education at Xavier University and is also the current Compact Chair and is on the Impact Evaluation committee.
Describe your role/involvement with the Ohio Deans Compact.
The Compact has been instrumental in my personal and ongoing professional development by providing a vehicle for connecting with the state, other public and private institutions, professional organizations, etc., such as CEEDAR, OSEP, OLAC, and the outstanding communities of practice with expert guidance from national and international thought leaders. The Deans Compact has also provided a platform for collegiately from across the state that hasn’t occurred through any other organization.
How does your involvement with the Compact benefit you and/or your organization?
My involvement in the Compact has benefited my institution by providing us with the opportunity to work with other programs to learn from other innovative practices across the state. Friendships have been forged to offer guidance and a listening ear to support and challenge the status quo. In addition, we have been the recipient of several grants that have improved our programs, strengthened our curriculum, and established new community connections that will live beyond our careers to impact teaching and learning in Ohio.
Why is the work of the Compact important?
The work of the Compact is instrumental in the unification of the state’s educational institutions to develop a cohesive entity to reflectively examine best practices and embrace the work that is needed to make this occur. Through the Compact’s efforts to support the Each Child Our Future strategic plan, advances in literacy, inclusive licensure, low incidence services, post-secondary services, and diversifying the workforce have become a reality.
What excites you most about working with the Compact and its members?
I am most excited to continue working with the Compact and its membership to renew the work to see how it unfolds. It has been a blessing to work with a group of phenomenal thought leaders and watch them shine as they see their work come to fruition—all of which benefits the educational community.