Dr. Marjorie Shavers is a familiar presence around campus. She’s served as the College of Education’s (COE) associate dean since 2023. Now, she’s stepping into a new role: COE interim dean. She will assume the role on July 1. We recently caught up with Shavers to chat about this transition.

Q&A

Academic Expressions: What’s on your mind as you assume this role?
Marjorie Shavers: Our college is in a unique place. We have a ton of momentum, and we have incredible partnerships with school districts and community programs. I’m excited to keep nurturing and developing these relationships.

AE: Is this part of what drew you to this position?
MS: Definitely. I also felt that my temperament would be an asset. This is an unpredictable time for education, and there are complex issues at play. I can bring a calm, steadying presence, even when we have to pivot quickly.

AE: What are some of the issues affecting education?
MS: We know there’s a lot of pressure on teachers and families in the communities we serve, and I consider it one of our responsibilities to provide support for schools and families. One example is our Pathways for Paraprofessionals program. It was designed for individuals who want to work in special education and need an alternate pathway so that they can become special education teachers. That’s a shortage area, and through Pathways for Paras, we’re helping meet it. But it wasn’t easy to bring that program into existence. As faculty developed it, we learned that if something wasn’t working, we had to drop it immediately and find another way. It required our faculty and staff to pivot quickly. That’s an example of what we must do—respond to the needs of our communities and find solutions together.

“We incorporate more practicum experiences than the state requires. We work to get students in the classroom as early as possible.”

—Dr. Marjorie Shavers

AE: Does this perspective inform the way COE prepares students? 
MS: It does. We know that teachers are most likely to leave the profession during the early stages of their career. For us, that means we have to prepare students to have mental flexibility, so they can work through challenges and keep showing up. It highlights the importance of experiential learning, specifically during students’ practicum experiences. We incorporate more practicum experiences than the state requires. We work to get students in the classroom as early as possible so they can struggle and work through their struggles. And we wrap around them with support during these experiences.

AE: How would you like others to support COE right now?
MS: Our perspective is that what we’re doing in COE has an impact on every college at our university. The educators we’re training will teach the future students in every program. This is why we encourage everyone to stay engaged with PK–12 education. We can all advocate for the kind of educational system we believe will best serve our communities. We can talk about the value of teachers’ work, and we can practice empathy for every family who’s trying to navigate the system. If we’re strong advocates for all kids, then, when they move into college, they’ll be better prepared to succeed. We all have a part to play.