BOONE—Dr. Melba Spooner has been named dean of Appalachian State University’s Reich College of Education after a national search. She begins her duties July 1, 2016.
Spooner has spent her higher education career at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she has been a faculty member and served in various roles in the College of Education including assistant dean; chair of the Department of Middle, Secondary, and K-12 Education; and associate dean. She currently serves as senior associate dean. She started her career in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as a classroom teacher and assistant principal.
A nationwide leader in professional education accreditation efforts, Spooner has served in leadership capacities at the national and state levels on issues related to accreditation and policy. At UNC-Charlotte she directed key initiatives that have strengthened the quality of teacher preparation and enhanced the college’s reputation, including development of a new Office of Assessment and Accreditation and leadership in the areas of field experiences, educational outreach, and advising, licensure and recruitment.
“Melba Spooner’s dedication to education, as well as her leadership in the field, will serve her well in her new role as dean of Appalachian’s Reich College of Education. I am confident she will be an outstanding leader for our talented faculty, staff and students,” said Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Darrell Kruger.
Spooner earned her Ed.D. in curriculum and teaching from University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education from UNC Charlotte. She also holds a Management Development Program Certificate from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.
Areas of professional interest and research include university-school partnerships, specifically related to Professional Development Schools and networks that support teacher development and enhance program quality. She received the 2016 Distinguished Faculty Award from the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association.
The Reich College of Education enrolls approximately 1,500 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students. It serves as the centerpiece of teacher education at Appalachian and provides courses and support to students enrolled in teacher preparation programs located not only in Reich College of Education but also the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Fine and Applied Arts and the College of Health Sciences.
The search committee was co-chaired by Susan Colby, Curriculum and Instruction, and Joyce Ogburn, University Library. Members of the search committee were Ellen Carpenter, Family and Consumer Science; Wayne Eberle, Watauga County Schools; Beth Frye, Reading Education and Special Education; Margaret Gregor, University Library; Precious Mudiwa, Leadership and Educational Studies; Greg McClure, Curriculum and Instruction; Juan Ramirez, Distance Education; Tracie Salinas, Mathematical Sciences; Rebekah Saylors, Reich College of Education; Tracy Smith, Curriculum and Instruction; Daisy Waryold, Human Development and Psychological Counseling; and Diana Barbee, Administrative Support.
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About the Reich College of Education
Appalachian State University offers one of the largest undergraduate teacher preparation programs in North Carolina, graduating about 500 teachers a year. The Reich College of Education enrolls more than 2,000 students in its bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degree programs, with offerings that span multiple fields — from teacher preparation, counseling, and therapy, to higher education, school and student affairs administration, library science, educational leadership and more. With over 10,000 alumni employed in North Carolina public schools, there is at least one Reich College graduate in every county in the state. Learn more at https://rcoe.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
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