Teacher Education, Kinesiology, and Educational Studies

For the past three years Hilary Conklin has provided exceptional leadership as Chair of the Department of Teacher Education, Kinesiology, and Educational Studies. Throughout her tenure, she has led with professionalism, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to supporting faculty, staff, and students. Her thoughtful leadership style, positive outlook, and collaborative approach have fostered a strong sense of community within the department. Conklin's ability to bring people together, encourage meaningful dialogue, and navigate challenges with grace and optimism has made a lasting impact on the department and the College of Education.

Beyond her many accomplishments, Conklin has been a valued colleague whose warmth, kindness, and genuine care for others have strengthened relationships across the college. Her dedication to creating an inclusive and supportive environment has helped cultivate a culture of collegiality, collaboration, and shared purpose. We extend our sincere gratitude for her outstanding service and the many contributions she has made during her time as department chair.

As we thank Conklin for her remarkable leadership, we are also delighted to welcome Christopher Worthman, a professor in the Department of Teacher Education, Kinesiology, and Educational Studies and member of the College of Education since 1999, Worthman brings a wealth of institutional knowledge and leadership experience to the role. Over the course of his career, he has served the college and university in a variety of committees, initiatives, and leadership capacities, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to the success of our students, faculty, and programs. We look forward to the vision and expertise he will bring to the department and are excited to begin this new chapter under his leadership. Please join us in thanking Conklin for her dedicated service and welcoming Worthman as he assumes this important role.

Promotions

Please join us in congratulating Deanna Burgess on her promotion to associate professor and the achievement of tenure. This well-deserved recognition reflects her outstanding contributions to teaching, scholarship, and service within the Counseling program and the broader College of Education. Since joining DePaul in 2020, Burgess has distinguished herself as a dedicated educator, mentor, and scholar whose work is guided by the principles of culturally sustaining pedagogy, with a deep commitment to fostering critical consciousness, cultural humility, equity, and belonging in educational and professional settings.

Burgess's impact extends across the university and the counseling profession through her research, publications, clinical leadership, and service. As co-director of the Education and Counseling Center, she helps provide equity-centered counseling services while preparing the next generation of counseling professionals. Her scholarship has been published in respected journals, and she is a recognized contributor at national and international conferences. Through her leadership, expertise in trauma and identity development, and unwavering commitment to supporting students and communities, Burgess exemplifies the highest standards of academic excellence. We celebrate this significant milestone and look forward to her continued contributions as a tenured associate professor.

Please join us in congratulating Alexandra (Sasha) Novakovic on her promotion to full professor, a significant achievement that reflects her longstanding dedication to teaching, scholarship, and service in counselor education. Novakovic has made a meaningful impact on the preparation of future counselors through her expertise in counseling psychology, school counseling, and counselor education. Her research on career development, particularly for women and special populations, as well as college and career readiness, has contributed to the advancement of the field and informed best practices for supporting students across educational settings.

In addition to her scholarly accomplishments, Novakovic is a respected educator, frequent presenter at state, regional, and national conferences, and a dedicated practitioner. Drawing on her experience as a former high school counselor and her ongoing work with adolescent and adult clients in private practice, she brings valuable real-world perspectives to her teaching and mentorship of students. Her promotion to full professor recognizes a distinguished career marked by excellence, leadership, and a deep commitment to the counseling profession. We congratulate Novakovic on this well-earned accomplishment and look forward to her continued contributions to the College of Education and the field of counselor education.