School of Education: Message from the Dean

Welcome to the School of Education. Our mission is to prepare exceptional professional educators whose professional practices are based on the best and most current research. Becoming a teacher, leader, or administrator in today’s primary and secondary schools is committing oneself to a noble profession.

Father Basil Moreau, the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, said that "the mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart." In the School of Education, we educate the mind by providing a thorough and professional grounding in the theory and practice of teaching. We educate the heart by ensuring that candidates obtain a well-rounded general education grounded in values and ethic. We believe this type of education cultivates a mind that thinks critically, is open to possibilities, and appreciates a variety of perspectives.

The School of Education will provide you an accomplished faculty, a varied curriculum, and substantial resources to meet your professional goals. Whether you are pursuing initial licensure or an advanced leadership position, a degree from the University of Portland will distinguish you as a highly prepared, creative, ethical decision-maker with a sophisticated understanding of the issues facing today’s schools.

Maria J. Ciriello, O.P., Ph.D. Dean, School of Education