UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Jacqueline Edmondson has been appointed associate vice president and associate dean for Undergraduate Education, effective June 1. In this capacity, Edmondson will join the leadership team in Office of Undergraduate Education, which provides collaborative direction and coordination for University-wide programs and initiatives in support of undergraduate teaching, learning, and enrollments at Penn State, such as the University-wide conversation on the student experience, involving aspects such as the curriculum, access, diversity, academic advising, engaged scholarship and new models for learning.
"I look forward to working with Jackie to enhance the success of Penn State students," said Robert N. Pangborn, interim executive vice president and provost, "and I am confident that the experience she brings will contribute to strengthening undergraduate education at Penn State."Edmondson has served as an associate dean in the College of Education since 2007, most recently as the associate dean for undergraduate and graduate studies. In addition, Edmondson is a professor in curriculum and instruction (language, culture and society) where she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in literacy and policy. Her research focuses broadly around issues of engagement with a specific attention to policy, texts and teacher education. Her research has been published in a number of academic journals and her books include "America Reads: A Critical Policy Analysis" (2000), "Prairie Town: Redefining Rural Life in an Age of Globalization" (2003), "Understanding and Applying Critical Policy Study: Reading Educators Advocating for Change" (2004), "Reading Education Policy" (2005 co-edited with Patrick Shannon), as well as biographies for adolescent readers about Venus and Serena Williams (2005, Greenwood Press), Condoleezza Rice (2006, Greenwood Press), Jesse Owens (2007, Greenwood Press), Jerry Garcia (2009, Greenwood Press), and John Lennon (2010). She also edited a four-volume series for ABC-CLIO titled "Music in American Life: An Encyclopedia of the Songs, Stars, Styles and Stories that Shaped Our Culture" (in print September 2013).Edmondson holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction, a master of science in educational psychology, and a bachelor of science in elementary and kindergarten education, all from Penn State.