Bellarmine University has named Dr. Elizabeth Dinkins as interim dean of Bellarmine University's Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education.

“I am absolutely delighted that Dr. Dinkins agreed to serve as interim dean," said Dr. Susan M. Donovan, Bellarmine's president, in making the announcement. "She’s a gifted teacher and impressive scholar with a strong reputation within the school, the university and the community.  She is perfectly situated to continue building on exciting initiatives begun under Dr. Robert Cooter’s leadership.” 

Dinkins - a former public school teacher - is associate dean and an associate professor of literacy education. She will serve as interim dean beginning immediately; a national search will be conducted for a new dean to replace Cooter, who expressed a desire to return to his duties as a professor after seven years as dean.

Donovan has tasked Dinkins with further strengthening the school's partnerships with school districts throughout the region while expanding opportunities for online education. Currently, the school offers a master of arts in education and a Rank I post-master's program online. Dinkins said she also hopes to develop a program that would allow students in some programs to earn both their undergraduate and master's degrees in five years.

Bellarmine partners with a growing number school districts - including Jefferson, Bullitt and Carroll counties - on programs that help students living in poverty read on their proper grade level. The program has trained more than 1,000 public school teachers in literacy strategies.

"I’m honored and excited to serve Bellarmine and the School of Education," said Dinkins. "I believe strongly in our mission and the good work that Dean Cooter and our faculty have created over the past years. It is my goal to continue this good work and explore ways to develop it further.” She will lead a school that serves 870 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students.

Under Cooter's leadership, the school expanded to add three doctoral programs, implemented their first online graduate programs, developed new teacher in-service collaborations with several school districts and expanded international service learning opportunities for students in undergraduate education programs.

About Dr. Dinkins
Dinkins received her doctorate in English education from the University of Virginia, a master's in education from Vanderbilt University and a bachelor's in liberal arts from The Evergreen State College.

At Bellarmine, in addition to serving as associate dean, she was chair of the doctoral program in education and social change for two years. Previously, she was an assistant professor of graduate education at Georgetown College and an instructor at University of Virginia.

Her work in public schools includes eight years teaching language arts and literacy at Louisville's Thomas Jefferson Middle School.
 
About the School of Education
Bellarmine University's Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees for teachers and education administrators. It prepares caring, effective educators to teach and lead in diverse settings, through extensive partnerships with primary and secondary schools in Louisville and the region. The school includes a Center for Economic Education and a Center for Teaching Excellence and Leadership. It is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and Kentucky's Education Professional Standards Board.