Expanding her lifelong support of the College of Education, Barbara Keener (Ed.D. ‘76) has established not only an endowment to support the Institute of Higher Education, but also a dissertation fund to support Higher Education Administration doctoral students research in community and state college systems.

With more than 3.5 million students in the United States failing to progress on their state assessments in 2017, effective school leadership is more important than ever to drive student success. At the University of Florida College of Education, we are preparing our students to become the next generation of school leaders that tackle education’s greatest challenges and build the pathways of opportunity for all children to succeed.

Founded in 2002 to transfer cutting-edge academic research into real-world solutions, the Lastinger Center has influenced policy, launched a growing portfolio of highly-successful projects, and changed the lives of thousands of teachers and students across the US. Now, as the center’s director approaches retirement, leadership is preparing to continue a tradition of excellence.

Every year, thousands of young adults throughout Florida drop out of college before completing their degrees. A team of researchers at the University of Florida’s College of Education wants to find out whether a “nudge” will help these former students re-enroll. The researchers recently launched a two-year study to determine whether ex-students at five Florida state or community colleges who receive targeted emails and financial incentives are more likely to return to finish their two- or four-year degrees.

The Lasting Center for Learning’s Instructional Coaching Program is paving the way for students and teachers to achieve success with their pioneering in the creation of educational environments that support teacher learning. The program champions teacher growth and focuses on increasing teachers’ instructional knowledge and skills, benefitting students and communities.

Our Leadership and education policy programs go far beyond the classroom. In order to transform education, we are working to prepare students and faculty to administer and implement complex policy at the school, district, state and national levels and to help build a brighter future through collaboration.