Dr. Don Schillinger, the Chase Bank Endowed Associate Professor and interim dean of Louisiana Tech University’s College of Education, will assume permanent leadership of the College as the new dean, effective July 1. Pending approval from the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, Schillinger will replace Dr. Laurence Leonard who retired as dean of the College of Education in August 2014. “The College of Education is blessed with an outstanding and diverse administration, faculty and staff, who serve the common purpose of achieving excellence through education by being committed to supporting students, engaging in productive research, and providing added value to their community,” said Schillinger. “It is a joy to co-labor each day beside a team of dedicated and collegial professionals with a shared goal that is greater than individual success. “Our belief is to embrace opportunities and to enhance and grow our programs through the use of faculty-driven strategic planning, effective use of analytics to increase efficiencies, focus attention on gaining alumni, corporate, and community support, while retaining and increasing the number of quality faculty and students.” Schillinger has served as an associate professor in the College of Education since 2006. He also served as associate dean of undergraduate studies and director of clinical and field experiences from 2009 to 2012, and director of assessment and accreditation (IT supervision) from 2012 until he assumed the interim deanship in 2014. Prior to his arrival at Louisiana Tech in 2006, Schillinger was a department head in McNeese State University’s Burton College of Education. He came to Louisiana from Mississippi where he served as co-director for assessment for the Center for Educational Research and Evaluation at the University of Mississippi, and director of the Teach Mississippi Institute. “Dr. Schillinger has provided exceptional leadership as interim dean this year, adding to his achievements as a college administrator and faculty member at Louisiana Tech,” said Dr. Terry McConathy, vice president for academic affairs at Louisiana Tech. “He has established the Caddo Parish Teacher Leader Institute, the UTeachTech program and a re-vision of the College of Education’s strategic plan. “I am excited that Don will continue his work as dean of the College of Education, and I look forward to his energy and insights as we grow toward 2020.” Schillinger earned his Ph.D. in secondary education (science) from the University of Mississippi in 2004. He also earned a master of education degree in secondary education (chemistry) from the University of Mississippi and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry education from the University of Central Florida. During his tenure at Louisiana Tech, Schillinger has been honored with the College of Education’s Outstanding Service Award (2009) and Outstanding Faculty Grants Award (2008) as well as the College’s Outstanding Grantsmanship Award in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction (2008.) He is a member of the State of Louisiana ACT Council and the Advisory Board for L-STEM: The Louisiana STEM Initiative. Schillinger also serves as a member of the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Contemporary Research in Education and reviewer for National Programs for the National Science Teacher Association. To the benefit of Louisiana Tech and its College of Education, it was Schillinger’s wife and best friend of 13 years, Ammi, that led him to Ruston. “Not long after marrying Ammi, she informed me that if possible, she would like to live in Ruston,” Schillinger said. “We have lived here nearly nine years, and each year I come to better understand her desire to become a part of this wonderful community. “It is indeed, a great place to raise a family, grow professionally and become a member of a family of fellowship.”