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Nationally Known Educator Chosen as Frostburg State University’s College of Education Dean

January 22nd, 2020 by WCBC Radio

Dr. Boyce C. Williams has been named dean of the College of Education at Frostburg State University. The nationally renowned educator in the field of public and teacher education has served as Frostburg’s interim dean since 2017.

“Dr. Williams has boundless energy and cares deeply for the students of the College of Education, as well as the faculty,” said FSU Provost Elizabeth Throop. “She is collaborative, collegial and brings a deep knowledge and understanding of her field. I’m delighted that Dr. Williams will be joining us on a permanent basis.”

Frostburg’s College of Education comprises the departments of Educational Professions and Kinesiology and Recreation. It covers programs for teacher education; recreation, parks and sport management; adventure sports management; athletic training; and exercise and sport science.

Williams has a broad background in higher education and related fields. In addition to her last two and a half years as interim dean for Frostburg, she worked in teacher education programs at Elizabeth City State University, part of the University of North Carolina system, and at a university in the United Arab Emirates. She was a vice president for the teacher education accrediting body NCATE (now CAEP), and has experience on both sides of the accrediting process. She worked in education policy matters on Capitol Hill and in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, was senior vice president and chief of staff at the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education and president and CEO of the National Alliance for Learning, Inc., a higher education consulting agency. She also worked in public school administration in East Lansing, Mich.

Throop said that, in Williams’ time at Frostburg, she led the College of Education through a complex and successful accreditation process, inspired faculty to create new programs and partnered exceedingly well with the University System of Maryland and other USM schools on teacher education matters. She also brought significant attention to issues of diversity, inclusion and equity and forged strong relationships with colleagues, including other deans and faculty members.

Williams said that her experience leading the varied departments in the College of Education has called upon every bit of her previous, broadly based experience.

“I lead the College of Education, but Frostburg State University overall is at heart a teaching institution,” Williams said. “We have a responsibility to work collaboratively, constructively and in concert with all colleges and departments, and with our regional educational partners as well. I am particularly pleased that we have been able to engage school-aged children across the region in numerous enrichment activities on campus and elsewhere.”

A recipient of eight honorary doctorate degrees, Williams earned her bachelor’s in English education from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, a master’s in urban counseling from Michigan State University and her doctorate in counseling psychology from Michigan State University.

For more information about FSU’s College of Education, visit www.frostburg.edu/colleges/coe.

Situated in the mountains of Allegany County, Frostburg State University is one of the 12 institutions of the University System of Maryland. FSU is a comprehensive, residential regional university and serves as an educational and cultural center for Western Maryland. For more information, visit www.frostburg.edu or facebook.com/frostburgstateuniversity. Follow FSU on Twitter @frostburgstate.

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