Q&A with Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, new dean of the School of Education

UNC named Fouad Abd-El-Khalick the new dean of the School of Education on Monday. Abd-El-Khalick spoke to staff writer Natalie Conti about teamwork, community partnerships and teacher diversity.

THE DAILY TAR HEEL: What are you most looking forward to in your new role as dean of education at UNC?

FOUAD ABD-EL-KHALICK: Hills, trees — having lived in the Midwest. It is only funny if you know how the Midwest looks.

I am incredibly looking forward to working with faculty, staff and students at UNC in the School of Education and beyond — across campus and across the community and Research Triangle definitely.

Working with people is the number one priority for me.

DTH: What sort of changes are you envisioning for the School of Education?

FA: I am not envisioning any changes. I try to explain to everybody that a good dean is someone that does not necessarily have a vision but is good at getting a vision out of the community...

We’re going to engage in some collective thinking to go over the vexing challenges that are facing schools of education.

DTH: What community partnerships would you like to install in the School of Education?

FA: My experience here at Illinois suggests that the most successful partnerships are ones that are inclusive of all stakeholders.

I do envision partnerships with local community schools, as well as schools across the state. As you probably know, in Carolina there are a sect of underprivileged, under-resourced communities, and given the new potential of technologies ... we hope to partner with other schools of education, with districts across the state, with particular districts in the community to strengthen our comprehensive approach to answering these challenges.

DTH: What are your plans for STEM education?

FA: There’s a lot of glory to be had in STEM. We need to build further our capacity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics...

When you think about this triangle of education, health and resilience, it’s clearly becoming one of the most important dimensions of working across communities.

DTH: How do you think UNC’s School of Education can improve teacher diversity?

FA: I think in increasing diversity of the teacher population, this is something that you have to have as an explicit goal for the School of Education.

It has to be coupled with securing resources and taking a very proactive approach to go out, recruit, support and bring students to UNC. And that would be just the first step because this is a continuing process of supporting students through their stay at UNC and beyond.

DTH: What would you say to students in the School of Education about the coming years?

FA: They will be invited to participate in conversations — conversations in which they will be asked to help us understand why they come to the School of Education at UNC-Chapel Hill, how the school is responding to their needs for their future careers, and could the school become a better place to address those needs...

So I really hope that the students are up and ready to talk and engage with these conversations throughout the year hopefully.

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