Phillip J. VanFossen
Interim Dean, and Ackerman Distinguished Professor
I am honored and humbled to be asked to serve as the Interim Dean of the College of Education. I have been blessed to have a variety of experiences over my 25 years at Purdue, and I will draw on all of these in continuing to move the College forward as we leverage the momentum we have built with our Innovation Initiative (I2)–a cutting-edge educator-preparation program that has transformed our teacher education programs—as well as our other highly successful, nationally-ranked programs across both departments.
Indeed, I look forward to working with faculty, staff, and students across the entire College to support the outstanding work being done across all of our program areas, and to ensure our I2 effort is successful.
I did not attend Purdue, but I bleed Old Gold and Black, and both of my daughters–Madison (ELED, 2017) and Lilly (ELED/SPED, 2021; MS in ABA, 2022)–graduated from the College of Education. That, in addition to my 25+ years here make me feel like I’m a Boilermaker. A Boilermaker educator.
Boilermaker educators are helping their students make giant leaps. Boilermaker educators are equipping their students to build a better world; Boilermaker educators have an ‘ever true’ commitment to lifelong learning.
I invite you to come to the College of Education to see for yourself what it means to be a Boilermaker educator!