Darden College Dean Jane Bray Elected to Leadership Role of National Higher Education Alliance

March 11, 2015

Jane Bray

Jane Bray, dean of Old Dominion University's Darden College of Education, was recently chosen as chair-elect of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), a nationwide alliance of education preparation programs at colleges and universities.

Bray was elected at AACTE's February 26 meeting to oversee the group's mission of leading the field in advocating for and building capacity for high-quality educator preparation programs in a dynamic landscape.

"It is an extreme honor and humbling moment for me to be able to serve in this capacity for educator preparation programs and institutions across the nation," said Bray, who came to Old Dominion University in 2013, and was named dean of the Darden College in December of that year. "I am also thrilled to represent ODU and the Darden College of Education in such a position on the national level."

The AACTE executive committee is charged with overseeing the work of the association between meetings of the full Board of Directors. The next meeting of the full board is June 8. The executive committee guides administrative and management matters of the association, studying issues of importance to the teacher education profession, on behalf of the board.

Bray previously served as an at-large member of the executive committee prior to her election. She now moves to a three-year term of chair-elect, chair and past-chair on AACTE's executive committee.

Bray came to Old Dominion University after spending 12 years as dean of education and associate provost at Millersville University, in Pennsylvania.

She has also served as a member on the Academic Advisory Council for Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, and she just completed a year as chair of the Advisory Council for State Representatives. Bray also chaired the search committee that selected the incoming dean of the Strome College of Business, Jeff Tanner.

Old Dominion University's Darden College of Education prepares distinguished professionals to become leaders in their fields. The college attracts diverse students and faculty, providing a model for metropolitan, higher education. Through the power of daily actions, Darden students, faculty and alumni are committed to benefiting the lives of children, families and communities.

The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education is a national alliance of educator preparation programs dedicated to high-quality, evidence-based instruction. Its more than 800 member institutions represent public and private colleges and universities in every state, the District of Columbia, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam. AACTE seeks to lead the field in advocacy by promoting innovation and effective practices as critical to reforming educator preparation.