Applying innovative approaches to learning that support a community of future makers, the College of Education (COE) is leveraging the strengths of its leaders.
Bill Gaudelli, dean of COE, has also served as vice provost for educational innovation for three years. In this role, he aided in leveraging evidence-based and innovative educational approaches, new curricula, and new technologies to enhance student outcomes in support of Lehigh’s Strategic Plan.
As this work has expanded, COE has not slowed in its own expansion, growing graduate program enrollment, forward-thinking programs, and valuable partnerships. This has been in large part due to the contributions of Robin Hojnoski, who served as associate dean of graduate education in COE from 2020 to 2024.
Recently, Provost Nathan Urban announced that Gaudelli will spend the next two years as the senior vice provost for educational innovation and assessment, focusing on university-wide projects to enhance adoption of new educational approaches.
During this time, Hojnoski will bring her extensive experience in graduate education and deep commitment to evidence-based program development to the role of acting dean. Her leadership will ensure that COE continues to build on its strengths while embracing opportunities for growth.
So much is happening, you might have missed a few things. So here are the top five things you might not know — but should!:
It thrives on partnerships that offer hands-on experience. The College of Education has a strong commitment to partnerships that address the needs of families and communities and provide our students with valuable, hands-on experience. An active presence in the local community reflects the college’s research-to-practice focus. Lehigh University Autism Services (within the Center for Promoting Research to Practice) and the Centennial Lab School adopt best practices in the treatment of autism and special education. The Community Voices Clinic provides multi-culturally-competent therapy services within two downtown Bethlehem-area elementary schools, reflecting the college’s commitment to social justice. Lehigh’s COE students, faculty, and staff are committed to collaboration with diverse communities, both locally and across the globe.
The Immersive Learning Center at Centennial Lab School allows students to “step inside” their lessons through 360 photos and videos. Students are encouraged to reach more broadly and explore new approaches through research-based practice and the creative integration of new technologies. By understanding how students learn, they apply best practices and the latest tools to improve learning outcomes. New technologies, such as those employed by the Centennial School, create opportunities to approach learning differently.
Its philosophy leads with a commitment to caring. Through translational research — research with practical applications — its faculty, students, and alumni produce work of lasting social impact on educational and mental health practice in schools and communities as well as on policy development and implementation.
This work covers a wide spectrum of issues that are important to the community such as examining the effects of interventions on the educational and psychological functioning of youth and adults with disabilities, such as autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and learning disorders. Their research includes measuring children’s school readiness and academic skills over time; examining the origins of gender roles and their impact on the psychological status of individuals and communities; and assessing factors that improve the daily practice of school principals.
Brook Sawyer, professor and associate dean for graduate studies, at Lehigh Valley Children's Centers. “One place where I think we're really going to grow is in interdisciplinary connections,” Hojnoski says. “We can help people to make that research-to-practice connection.”
This type of innovative learning is reaching students in new ways, such as ParentsPlus, a research app designed to provide accessible support to families in a modern world.
In Hojnoski’s view, that commitment to caring is what sets COE apart. “We care about the impact of our research, and we care about training our students to go out and also have a positive impact in our communities.”
It’s bringing more graduate-level opportunities online to working professionals. By increasing access to high-quality education and training through online learning opportunities, the College of Education is bringing the value of a Lehigh graduate degree to a larger audience. In 2020, in response to the pandemic, COE launched its first fully online program: the Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness certificate.
“At the beginning of the pandemic, all of the ways that we trained people changed,” says Hojnoski. “Everything became online instruction, telehealth, teleschool psych services. We responded to that challenge by creating online programs.”
Since then, COE has added a number of fully online and hybrid certificate and degree programs to better meet the needs of today’s learners. Six master’s-level programs are available fully online, including the M.S. Instructional Technology, M.Ed. Educational Leadership, and M.Ed. Behavior Analysis. Seven certificates are also available online, including the Mental Health and Education of Latin American People in the United States and Game-Based Learning certificates.
It is expanding to better impact regional, national, and global education. The world of education offers diverse opportunities, and Lehigh’s College of Education is preparing its students to pursue them. It offers an International College Admissions Counseling certificate and a master’s degree in International School Counseling through our Global Programs office.
All of the programs are built for full-time teachers, counselors, and administrators and allow for the student to set their own pace through the sequence of the courses in their program.
Classes are held online and through a Summer Institute that meets at a new international location each year. The mixed-format options provide students with flexible online course content and immersive in-person learning. In 2024, the Summer Institute met in Bangkok, Thailand, in partnership with Thammasat University. Check with Julia Aughenbaugh, assistant director for global programs, about upcoming offerings, partnerships, or exchanges.
It prepares alumni to drive positive change in policy and practice. In specialties of education, leadership, and emotional and behavioral health, COE’s highly qualified graduates are equipped to be future makers in their fields. Many serve in leadership roles at Centennial Lab School and at other innovative schools across the country. COE graduates also hold leadership roles with national health organizations that are addressing issues such as autism and Tourette's syndrome. For example, Katrina Hermetet ’15, pediatric school psychology, recently accepted a position with the Tourette Association of America as vice president of medical and scientific affairs.
Other alumni advocate for important policy changes at the local, state, and national level, including Charles Barrett '13G, who received the 2024 Outstanding Commitment to Anti-Racism in School Psychology Committed Professional Award from the American Psychological Association, and School Psychology alumna Lisa Thomas ’12, who has been named May Institute’s director of school consultation in Philadelphia and surrounding areas.
Many extend their commitment to innovative education in their fields, serving as university faculty. Sara Heintzelman ’11G, technology integration specialist at Centennial School, and Julie Fogt ’06G ’26P, director of Centennial School, serve as leaders and partners at Centennial School while also serving as adjunct faculty for COE.
COE is honored to benefit from an active alumni community that frequently serves as adjunct professors, mentors to current students, or supervisors for practicums. Its alumni also offer their continued support of the important work taking place in the college through their generous donations.
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Reach out to Elyse Holben, director of development for College of Education, to learn about other initiatives or ways to get involved and support the COE mission!
Contact incoe@lehigh.edu to let us know what you are up to.
