Texas Tech Announces New Dean of College of Education

Officials at Texas Tech University announced today (Dec. 21) that Scott Ridley will become the next dean of the College of Education effective June 1, 2011.

The announcement came from Provost Bob Smith.

Ridley comes to Texas Tech after 20 years in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University.  As an associate professor of Educational Psychology, he taught courses and published research on learning and motivation theory, action research and classroom assessment.  

“Texas Tech already has tremendous programs in education and teacher preparation,” said Guy Bailey, president of Texas Tech. “We look forward to Scott’s leadership in the College of Education. It will benefit not only the partnerships with schools in our area, but also to help fill teacher needs across the state and nation.”

Smith said Ridley brings a wealth of experience to Texas Tech.

“Scott is an ideal person to fill the College of Education Dean position,” Smith said. “His background and experience will be very powerful in making his contributions successful.  President Bailey and I believe that the position will give him and his new colleagues many opportunities to work across the university landscape in unique ways.”

He has served as chair of a foundations department, director of district-based teacher education programs, assistant and associate dean. During his time at ASU, Ridley led the establishment of a statewide school-university partnership network in Arizona.

In addition to multiple ASU and national awards, his programs have attracted numerous federal grants including a $ 33.8 million Teacher Quality Partnership grant awarded in 2009 and a $ 43.4 million Teacher Incentive Fund grant awarded in 2010.

Ridley grew up in the panhandle near Hereford, Texas and received his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.

CONTACT:  Leslie Cranford, Communications & Marketing, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-2136, or leslie.cranford@ttu.edu.