Former UA Professor Named Dean of UA College of Education

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. James McLean, a former professor of education at The University of Alabama, has been named dean of UA’s College of Education.

Dr. Judy Bonner, UA provost and vice president for academic affairs, announced the appointment, which is effective Aug. 1. McLean replaces Dr. W. Ross Palmer, who has served for the past year as interim dean.

McLean, currently the James H. Quillen Chair of Excellence chairholder in the College of Education at East Tennessee State University, has more than 35 years of teaching experience and 25 years of administrative experience. He served on the UA education faculty from 1974-1995, holding a number of positions including area head and assistant dean for research and service.

After leaving UA, McLean spent five years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a university research professor and directed the Center for Educational Accountability.

“I am honored to be returning to The University of Alabama as the dean of the College of Education,” said McLean. “It will be exciting to work with the faculty and the University administration as we solidify the position of the College as the capstone of education in Alabama and a leader in the nation.”

“We are pleased to have Dr. McLean returning to the Capstone to lead the College of Education. We look forward to much success in the future under his leadership,” Bonner said.

McLean’s research areas include applications and methodologies of evaluation, assessment, measurement and accountability.

He belongs to numerous professional organizations including the American Educational Research Association, American Evaluation Association, American Psychological Association, American Statistical Association, Kappa Delta Pi education honorary and the Mid-South Educational Research Association.

McLean holds a bachelor’s degree in education, a master’s degree in statistics and a doctorate in research foundations of education, all from the University of Florida.