By Jeff Murphy,
May 19, 2017
WARRENSBURG, MO – Robert E. Lee, an Illinois educator whose background includes developing
partnerships with members of university-based teacher education programs, public schools
and community organizations, will now play a role in preparing Missouri teachers and
administrators as dean of the University of Central Missouri College of Education.
Deborah Curtis, provost-chief learning officer at UCM, today announced Lee’s appointment
following a national search process. The new dean begins his duties July 17, filling
a position that was held previously by Mike Wright, who is retiring. The dean is the
head of UCM’s Professional Education Unit, which includes 19 undergraduate degree
programs leading to Missouri certification in 34 areas and 20 graduate programs.
“We’re grateful for Dr. Wright’s many years of outstanding service and dedication
not only to UCM but to Missouri education as a whole. While we wish him well on his
retirement, we are pleased that Dr. Lee is joining us in the College of Education.
His knowledge, experience and leadership skills, along with his ability to create
new partnerships, will help the college and the university to continue its forward
momentum.”
Currently residing in Chicago, in 2016 Robert Lee became founder and executive director
for the National Center for Urban Education (NCUE) at Illinois State University, Normal/Chicago.
Grounded in social justice, NCUE takes a community-based approach to cultivate and
sustain transformative, resilient, and effective public schools that address important
needs in urban education
In addition to his NCUE post, he has served since 2015 as executive director of Statewide
Urban Programs & Partnerships for Illinois State; was executive director from 2012-2015
of Chicago Programs & Partnerships; and has served since 2004 as founder and director
of the Chicago Teacher Education Pipeline for the dean’s office in the College of
Education, at Illinois State.
Additionally, Lee was founder and director, 2000-2004, for Global Educators Outreach,
DePaul University, Chicago, and program coordinator, 1999-2000, for the Effective
TeacherNetwork Program for DePaul’s Center for Urban Education. Lee also has vast
K-20 teaching experiences in states that include New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and
Illinois.
Commenting on his new position, Lee noted, “As the next dean of the College of Education,
I look forward to working with faculty, staff, school - and community-based partners
to develop innovative teacher and administrator education programs that ensure our
graduates are well-positioned to teach all children and work toward a more inclusive
and equitable society.”
Lee’s college education includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine
University, master’s degree in psychology from Harvard University, and Ed.D from DePaul
University, where he is a 2011 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient and 2006 recipient
of the Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation Award.
