By Larry B. Dendy
Louis A. Castenell Jr., whose success as dean of the College of Education at the University of  Cincinnati has earned him a reputation as a rising national star in higher education, has been chosen to be new dean of the UGA College of Education.
Castenell was one of four finalists recommended by a search committee to succeed Russell H. Yeany, who will step down as dean of UGA’s education college in August. Castenell’s appointment is subject to approval by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents.
Castenell has been dean of the Cincinnati education college since 1990. Previously he was dean of the graduate school of arts and sciences at Xavier University of Louisiana.
Known as a forward-looking, energetic consensus builder, Castenell will take the reins of an education college nearly twice the size of the University of Cincinnati college, which has about 2,600 students and 150 faculty and staff members. UGA’s education college has about 3,000 undergraduates and 2,000 graduate students, and more than 240 faculty members.
“We are extremely pleased to have a person of Dr. Castenell’s stature and qualifications leading our College of Education,” says President Michael F. Adams. “He will provide outstanding guidance for a college that is nationally recognized for academic excellence, and that renders service of critical importance to Georgia citizens and the entire nation.”
Castenell’s tenure at Cincinnati has been marked by major advances, including creation of doctoral programs in criminal justice and urban educational leadership, a 76 percent rise in research funding, increased scholarships for graduate programs, creation of a child-development center, and some $12 million in capital renovation.
He funded a student-service center to help meet academic and personal needs of undergraduate and graduate students, established a college advisory board and established postdoctoral awards and grants to support faculty teaching improvement.
Castenell has attracted national attention for using the resources of the Cincinnati education college to help the city’s public schools. The Cincinnati Initiative for Teacher Education, which he started in conjunction with the Cincinnati school system, has been cited as a national model for teacher preparation and was featured in Time magazine and on national television.
He also helped secure a $15 million grant from the National Science Foundation for a joint project to improve Cincinnati schools.
He was notably successful as a fund raiser, increasing private giving by nearly $1 million annually. He created a fund-raising position in the college and was responsible for obtaining a $1.2 million gift from Procter & Gamble and a $1.7 million gift from a private foundation.
“Louis Castenell is a gifted educator and dynamic leader who will bring extraordinary vision and vigor to the College of Education,” says Karen Holbrook, UGA’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “He is widely viewed as one of the most able educational administrators in the country, and comes with the highest of recommendations from professional peers.”
Holbrook says colleagues describe Castenell as a “visionary” and a “change agent” who can motivate faculty, staff and students to accomplish lofty goals. He is praised for his energy and creativity, and for a collegial leadership style that brings together diverse groups in cooperative relationships.
Many people point to his rising stature in national educational circles, Holbrook says. One person rates Castenell among the top five education deans in the country.
One of his priorities has been increasing opportunities for minorities in teacher education. At Cincinnati, he helped build a model program for minorities who are training to be teachers. He supported promotion and tenure for minorities and women and served for 10 years as chair of the President’s Advisory Council on Race Relations and Human Decency.
He has also headed committees on cultural diversity and multicultural education for two national associations of education schools and colleges.
Castenell has also been a leader in other professional education circles, serving as co-chair of Ohio’s National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future and as chair of the Ohio Standards for Teacher Education.
He is on the Commission on Human Resources and Social Change for the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, and is also on the NASULGC Board of Quality for the Academic Environment and Undergraduate Experience. He serves on the planning committee for the American Association for Higher Education.
Castenell’s research has focused on issues of race and diversity in testing, learning, social growth and other aspects of education. He is co-editor of three books and author of numerous book chapters, articles and other publications. One of his books received the Critic’s Choice Award from the American Educational Studies Association.
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