TUCSON, Ariz. — Bruce Johnson, who has served as interim dean of the University of Arizona's College of Education since July, has been appointed permanent dean.
He succeeds Ronald W. Marx, who stepped down as dean of the College of Education on June 30 to return to the UA faculty.
Johnson began his career at the UA in 2000 as an assistant professor, after working for many years as an elementary and middle school teacher in Arizona and New Mexico and as director of outdoor schools in New Mexico and Australia.
He became head of the college's Department of Teaching, Learning and Sociocultural Studies in 2007. That department is currently being led by UA professor emeritus Walter Doyle.
"With his unique background, passion and years of experience at the UA, Bruce is well-suited to lead the College of Education, which has the critical responsibility of preparing the next generation of educational professionals for a changing world," said Andrew Comrie, UA provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.
As dean, Johnson's priorities include research, improving ways for working professionals to become teachers, and fundraising for scholarships.
"I am very excited about working with my colleagues in the college and across campus, as well as with our community partners to address the critically important and serious challenges that face education in our state and nation. Nothing could be more important," Johnson said.
Johnson, who also is the UA's Paul L. Lindsey and Kathy J. Alexander Chair, has a doctorate in education psychology with a minor in science education from the University of New Mexico and a master's in environmental education from George Williams College.
At the UA, he has taught undergraduate and graduate classes in environmental learning and science education and conducts research around the world focused on children's understandings, values, attitudes and actions related to the environment and how those develop through education.
He additionally serves as director of the UA's Earth Education Research and Evaluation Team, which conducts research and provides evaluation services to centers and schools offering educational programs related to the environment. The team has conducted projects throughout the United States and in Australia, Bolivia, China, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Nepal and Spain.
Johnson also is international program coordinator for the Institute for Earth Education, an international, nonprofit educational organization that develops and disseminates earth education programs, and he is principal investigator of the UA's Teachers in Industry program, which focuses on keeping the best teachers in the profession while enhancing their ability to prepare students for using science and math in the real world. He also was a founding co-director of the UA's STEM Learning Center.
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