Emily Robertson, chair of the Department of Cultural Foundations of Education in Syracuse University's School of Education, has been named interim dean of the school, effective July 1.
"I selected Emily because she has a way about her that should make her a fantastic dean," says Vice Chancellor and Provost Deborah A. Freund. "She is a hard worker and has a keen intellect. She is so thoughtful about what she thinks and does that when she speaks, everyone is forced to listen. I think she will instantly command the respect of all who become privileged to work with her."
"I am honored to have been chosen as interim dean of the School of Education," Robertson says. "My roots run deep in the school, where I've been a faculty member for more than 20 years. I have great admiration for the dedication and commitment of my colleagues, who have made the school an outstanding place to work and to study. I look forward to working with the school's excellent faculty, staff and students in meeting the challenges of education in the 21st century."
Robertson holds dual associate professor positions in the cultural foundations of education department and the philosophy department in The College of Arts and Sciences. She specializes in philosophy of education, ethics and social philosophy and philosophy of social sciences. Her primary research interests include analysis of educational aims in relationship to moral, political and social ideals and to theories of knowledge, particularly the development of capacities for critical reflection and for moral perception and judgement.
She received her doctorate from the School of Education in 1981 and subsequently joined the school's faculty.
Robertson's articles have appeared in Proceedings of the Philosophy of Education Society, Review of Research in Education, Journal of Higher Education and the American Journal of Education. She is past president of the Philosophy of Education Society and is on the editorial board of Studies in Philosophy and Education. She was a consultant on projects for the Ford Foundation, the National Institute of Education and the Educational Testing Service.
A search committee for a dean, chaired by College of Law Dean Daan Braveman, has been identified and is scheduled to meet for the first time in the coming days
