Curry School of Education | University of Virginia

Robert C. Pianta

Dean, Curry School of Education
NovartisProfessor of Education
Professor, Department of Psychology
In addition to his roles as dean and professor, Robert Pianta serves as the Director for both the National Center for Research in Early Childhood Education and the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning. Dr. Pianta’s work has focused on the predictors of child outcomes and school readiness, particularly adult-child relationships, and the transition to kindergarten. His recent work has focused on understanding the nature of teacher-child interactions, classroom quality, and child competence, through standardized observational assessment. Dr. Pianta has conducted research on professional development, both at the pre-service and in-service levels. He has published more than 300 scholarly papers and is lead author on several influential books related to early childhood and elementary education. Dr. Pianta received a B.S. and a M.A. in Special Education from the University of Connecticut, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota, and began his career as a special education teacher.

Mark C. Hampton
Associate Dean for Management and Finance
Department of Leadership, Foundations, and Policy
Mark joined Curry in 2007 to be responsible for overseeing the daily operations and financial management of the Curry School of Education, and for developing budgets and supporting planning efforts for the School. Specific areas he oversees include budgeting and planning, finance, human resources, information technology, and facilities. He is also the liaison from the Curry School in the projects to build Bavaro Hall and renovate Ruffner Hall.

Rebecca D. Kneedler
Associate Dean for External Partnerships and International Initiatives
Community Engagement, Globalization in Education
Professor, Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
In a role created in 2007, Rebecca works with Dean Pianta and the Curry faculty in developing and strengthening partnerships external to Curry that are in the interest of the school’s academic, research, and service missions. These partnerships include many within the University, such as those involving the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, international student and faculty exchange programs, Universitas 21, J-Term, and new cross-school initiatives coming from the University’s strategic planning process. Her additional responsibilities focus on partnerships outside the University community, including various state educational agencies and departments, K–12 school divisions locally and throughout the Commonwealth, organizations related to teaching such as Teach for America, and educational institutes and foundations. Rebecca has been at the Curry School since 1975.

Joe Garofalo
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Programs
Associate Professor, Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
While Joe has worked at the Curry School since 1987, he currently oversees academic policies and procedures, academic program review, faculty affairs and reviews, and student affairs. He works with faculty members across program areas to identify common themes and research interests, and he works with other administrators on issues related to admissions, faculty development, diversity, and partnerships.

Stanley C. Trent
Assistant Dean for Diversity and Equity
Associate Professor, Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education

Stan’s role is to lead and organize all Curry efforts related to diversity. He participates in all hiring searches, develops student-recruitment pipelines, and establishes an approach to developing diversity content for the curriculum so that every Curry student will have contact with curricular content in diversity. His primary goals for Curry this year are to increase the diversity of faculty and students, increase awareness about diversity and educational equity, and increase the inclusion of diversity content in programs and courses. Stan has been a member of the Curry Community since 1998.

Joanne May McNergney
Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Services
Professor, Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education
Joanne came to Curry in 1989. In her current role, she counsels presently enrolled and prospective students interested in undergraduate and graduate programs across the school and is faculty advisor to the Education Council. She serves on Curry School committees such as the Teacher Education Advisory Committee and Faculty Council (ex officio), and she coordinates the Curriculum and Instruction program. McNergney manages the Curry Admissions Office staff and record-keeping operations for some twenty-plus programs. She serves as the certification officer for the School by reviewing students’ records and recommending individuals for state licensure. McNergney also plans and manages special events such as orientation, Family Weekend, the doctoral hooding ceremony, and Curry’s diploma ceremony.

Daniel B. Berch
Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development
Professor, Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education, and Department of Leadership, Foundations, and Policy
Dan joined Curry at the time this position was created, the spring of 2008. Dan is responsible for creating, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating School-wide policies and procedures in relation to research administration and management. He also directs the Curry School’s resources and efforts toward increasing the amount, quality, and scope of research conducted by faculty and graduate students. In addition, he initiates or participates in the development of strategic partnerships with school divisions and state agencies that create opportunities for research and scholarly work.

Audrey Dodson Breen
Director of Communications
Audrey joined Curry in 2008 to oversee all of the communication efforts at the Curry School. She takes the lead on updating the Curry website and working with internal departments and centers to be sure all information on the website is up-to-date and easily accessed. With so many noteworthy stories and events happening at Curry, Audrey keeps her finger on the pulse of the school, writes articles, press releases and media alerts and also works closely with U.Va.’s Public Affairs department to circulate that information. Audrey heads up all internal communications within Curry and also works closely with the Dean on any of his communication needs.

Brenda Boyd
Director of Budget and Financial Operations
Brenda came to Curry in 1993. In her current role, she directs the administration of all non-sponsored funds and fellowships for the school and provides support to faculty and staff in all areas of account planning, budgeting, policies and procedures.  Brenda manages the Business Office, the School Copy Center and works collaboratively with Curry’s Director of Human Resources to oversee staff development, training and utilization.

Randy Bell
Chair, Faculty Council
Associate Professor
As Chair of the Faculty Council, Randy acts as a conduit of information to and from the faculty council and leadership team. In combination with the leadership team and faculty council he is responsible for the formation and oversight of ad-hoc committees and facilitating faculty meetings. In addition, his responsibilities linked to faculty council include setting agendas, facilitating meetings, and distribution of minutes to Curry faculty.

Department Chairs
Department Chairs are responsible for administering and developing varied aspects of their department and its programs including finances, personnel (faculty and staff), and other department resources. Within the department, Chairs work to develop effective communications among faculty members, provide faculty with formative and summative feedback regarding their teaching, research, and service, work collaboratively with Program Coordinators to ensure quality of curriculum and instruction in all program areas, and facilitate faculty growth in teaching, research, and service. They are liaisons between the department, Associate Deans, and Dean, including serving as a member of the Dean’s Leadership Team.

Peter L. Sheras
Chair, Department of Human Services
Professor and Director of Clinical Training
Human Services Program Areas:
Clinical & School Psychology, Communication Disorders, Counselor Education, Kinesiology

Laura B. Smolkin
Chair, Department of Curriculum, Instruction & Special Education
Professor
Curriculum, Instruction, & Special Education Program Areas:
Elementary Education; Secondary Education; Special Education;
Reading Education; Teaching and Learning; Math and Science Education; Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies

Carol Ann Tomlinson
Chair, Department of Leadership, Foundations & Policy
William Clay Parrish, Jr. Professor
Leadership, Foundation, and Policy Program Areas:
Administration and Supervision
Educational Psychology: Applied Developmental Sciences (Risk & Prevention)
Gifted Education; Higher Education; Instructional Technology
Policy Research, Statistics, and Evaluation; Social Foundations