Gregory Anderson is a professor of higher education at Temple University’s College of Education, and was dean of the College from 2013-2022. Prior to joining Temple, Greg served as the dean of the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver. Earlier in his career, he was an associate professor at the Program in Higher and Postsecondary Education at Columbia University’s Teachers College. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in sociology from the University of Toronto and received his Ph.D. from the City University of New York.
Why did you decide to join Deans for Impact?
I believe there needs to be a fundamental paradigm shift in teacher education and the introduction of a more balanced perspective guiding the transformation of educational policy and teacher preparation oversight.
What is one pivotal moment in your career in educator preparation that left a positive impact on you or others?
Overseeing and expanding two teacher residency programs in Denver. As a result of the experience, I began to fully appreciate the importance of the clinical component of educator preparation as well as the need for Colleges of Education to work more closely and thoughtfully with school districts when developing curricula, instructional methods and research on effectiveness.
What most excites you about the opportunity to transform the field of educator preparation in the years ahead?
I truly believe that fighting for access to high-quality educational opportunities for all students in the United States is the civil rights struggle of the 21st century. Preparing educators and empowering them with the knowledge and confidence to positively impact the life chances of children in the 21st century is one of the most exciting and important responsibilities I can think of as parent, an educator and a university leader.