 Talking
upTowson
New dean's
good impressions based on visits, colleagues' endorsements
Raymond P. Lorion, recently
appointed dean of the College of Education, says encouragement from
other distinguished educators influenced his decision to come to
TU.
Lorion, professor of education
in the University of Pennsylvania's Psychology in Education Division,
says he liked what he saw here, including the College of Education
faculty's strong commitment to the profession and to students, as
well as the leadership of acting dean Tom Proffitt and other top
administrators.
“The College of Education
faculty and staff take great pride in their work,” he adds. “They're
very enthusiastic about what they're doing and very optimistic about
where they're going.”
Lorion pointed to the College
of Education's extensive Professional Development School network,
its unique Towson Learning Network and the “unprecedented” Teacher
Education Executive Board as further evidence of dedication to the
highest quality teacher preparation.
He also praised President
Robert L. Caret's and Provost James F. Brennan's “unlimited enthusiasm”
for both the College of Education and the university as a whole.
"I thought, 'This is a position I'd like to obtain,'"
he says.
But he also took time
to consult some colleagues about this unusual opportunity to lead
the college that produces so many of Maryland's classroom teachers.
As a former member of
the University of Maryland, College Park faculty, he knew USM Chancellor
William “Brit” Kirwan and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Irwin
Goldstein would be available to talk to him. “Both expressed enthusiasm
for the quality and the future of the institution,” he says. “They
urged me to pursue it.”
As did Seymour Sarason,
professor emeritus of psychology at Yale, who told Lorion the dean's
position at TU “was the best in the country if you want to influence
the course of higher education. We talked about how I wanted to
help teachers respond to students' behavioral and emotional challenges
as a way to reduce obstacles to effective learning,” he says. “And
he told me I'd never get a better chance than this.”
Lorion, who assumes the
dean's post July 1, says he's prepared for challenges.
“Of course there will
be challenges.” he says. “My sense is that the leadership of the
college and the university are clearly committed to helping me learn
what I need to learn to sustain all that is going well and to work
with the faculty to achieve our potential.”
And, considering what he's
heard, his confidence is well founded.
“Everybody I've spoken to has been
extraordinarily complimentary about Towson,” he says.
Story by Jan Lucas/Photo
courtesy of University of Pennsylvania
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