The College of Education - The University of Utah

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the U of U stadium from above with campus and the eastern mountains in the background — **Admissions**

the salt lake city skyline with capitol building — **Community Engagement**

side view of students in a lecture class — **Undergraduate Research**

Faculty member reviewing data on a laptop with students in their office — **Office of Research, Innovation, Scholarship & Entrepreneurship**

Introducing Dean Laanan

Beyond being Dean, Dr. Frankie Santos Laanan is also a professor in the Departments of Education, Culture, & Society as well as Educational Leadership & Policy. He believes in education as a tool for social good and is dedicated to advancing educational access.

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College of Education News

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College of Education welcomes distinguished alumna Sydnee Dickson to new leadership role

The College of Education has appointed Sydnee Dickson as Clinical Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy and inaugural Special Assistant to the Dean for Strategic Initiatives. Dickson retired as Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction and will join the college this fall, having stepped down from her superintendent role in July 2025. She returns to the college where she earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership & Policy in 2007, bringing with her an impressive 43-year career spanning roles as teacher, counselor, principal, district administrator, and state superintendent for the past nine years.
William A. Smith Named 2025 Men of IMPACT Juneteenth Honoree

Distinguished Professor William A. Smith has been recognized as one of IMPACT Magazine’s 2025 Men of Impact , a national honor celebrating those who create lasting change in their communities. Smith is widely known for introducing the framework of Racial Battle Fatigue, a language that has helped scholars, students, and individuals better understand and articulate the emotional and physical toll of racism. He is distinguished not only by his substantial contributions to the field but also by his eminent positions within the university.
Utah youth mental health advocacy event builds momentum for change

On May 6, 2025, the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative (USMHC) and Mending Minds Village hosted the Youth Mental Health Advocacy Event at the Utah State Capitol, honoring National Children's Mental Health Awareness Month. With support from Voices for Utah Children, Live Like Sam, and WeBeWell, the event welcomed about 80 attendees, including parents, community members, and policymakers, to raise awareness and foster advocacy for youth mental health.
UEPC team publishes new research on Utah STEM Action Center in the book STEM Century

Researchers from the Utah Education Policy Center (UEPC) published a chapter in STEM Century: It Takes a Village to Raise a 21st Century Graduate – Utah Edition. The group’s co-authored chapter "STEM Action Center as Innovation Intermediary: Through the Lens of a Research Practice Partner" examines the Utah Stem Action Center (STEM AC) role as an innovation intermediary within Utah’s STEM ecosystem. The UEPC is housed in the College of Education.