At the College of Education, we are continually exploring new ways to innovate and respond to the evolving needs of our students and the communities we serve. While some of this work takes place through direct outreach and engagement with students, other efforts require sustained planning and collaboration behind the scenes. One such initiative was a comprehensive staff reorganization for the Dean's Office administration that began in September 2025 and took effect on July 1, 2026. This effort was led by a small and dedicated group of staff members whose commitment to our mission helped reimagine how the college operates and positions us to better support our students, faculty, and community partners.

Throughout the 2025-26 academic year, the administrative staff at the College of Education met regularly to formulate a proposal in response to the changing composition of the college’s staff over the past 15 years. The new organization was crafted over several months of weekly meetings between a number of administrators in the college including Dean Mueller’s Senior Executive Assistant, Erin James; the three former Department Assistants, Nikki Nudo, Krisana Holt, and Genesis Castello; the Doctoral Program Assistant, Michael Boland; and other stakeholders, primarily Dalila Gonzalez, our Academic Scheduling & Records Manager. The intention of this restructuring was to address persistent issues surrounding process and communication in the previous structure that was slowing down workflow through inefficient and outdated processes.

In response to these challenges, the team reimagined what a streamlined and sustainable staff structure could look like, one designed to more equitably support the college as it continues to evolve. As higher education changes, so too must the ways we support our students, faculty, and the communities we serve. This reorganization represents one important step in that ongoing effort.

After months of reviewing the responsibilities of Department Assistants and assessing the college’s operational needs, the team identified areas where roles had expanded, merged, or been redistributed over time. Based on this assessment, the group developed three new positions - the Program Support Coordinator, the Faculty Personnel & Scheduling Coordinator, and the Operations & Financial Support Coordinator - and refined several existing roles to better align responsibilities with the college’s current and future priorities. Each of the new positions was intentionally designed to address specific institutional needs while improving communication, strengthening service delivery, and reinforcing the college’s commitment to student success and its core values.

Each of these new roles focuses on a distinct area of responsibility that was previously spread across multiple Department Assistant positions. By clarifying and concentrating responsibilities, the new structure promotes greater specialization, consistency, and collaboration across departments. The reorganization also creates opportunities for cross-training, ensuring that critical functions such as adjunct faculty hiring and building management can continue without disruption. As a result, the college has strengthened its capacity to support scheduling, part-time faculty hiring, program administration, and financial operations. Overall, the new structure simplifies organizational processes, aligns complementary functions, reduces silos, and fosters greater consistency and collaboration across the College of Education.

While the full impact of these changes will take time to emerge, the early results affirm the value of a more focused, collaborative, and adaptable staff structure. We remain committed to evaluating and refining our processes to ensure they continue to meet the evolving needs of our students, faculty, and programs.

Ultimately, this reorganization is about more than operational efficiency. It is about creating the capacity to innovate, strengthen partnerships, and invest in initiatives that advance the mission of the College of Education. As we continue to grow into these roles, we look forward to building on this foundation and creating new opportunities to support student success, enhance the work of our faculty and staff, and shape the future of the college.