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Teachers, school counselors, child psychologists and educational leaders play a crucial role in shaping the minds and futures of students. They have the ability to inspire and motivate their students to reach their full potential. Faculty, alum, students and staff in our School of Education are dedicated to providing the highest quality education to future generations. Their hard work and dedication impact anywhere…
Welcome to the School of Education at Duquesne University! It is my honor to serve as Dean of the School of Education. We proudly prepare classroom educators, educational administrators, school counselors, mental health professionals and school psychologists.
Our guiding principles of justice, equity, and academic excellence inspire our work to increase student access and opportunities.
The Duquesne mission to serve God by serving students is embedded in all our programs. We work every day to enhance the needs of our professional disciplines and to make people aware of our disciplines' profound impact on our communities' overall well-being. We offer a bachelor’s degree, numerous master’s degrees and three doctoral degree programs in three departments. Our departments include the Department of Counseling Education and School Psychology; the Department of Instruction and Leadership in Education; and the Department of Educational Foundations and Leadership. In each department, we work to inspire and empower our graduates to make a positive impact on the world through teaching, research, leadership and service.
We believe in the transformative power of education. Together, our faculty, staff, students and alumni explore new ideas, challenge assumptions, and develop the skills and knowledge needed to lead in an ever-changing educational landscape. I invite you to learn more about the School of Education.
-Gretchen Givens Generett, Ph.D. | Dean and Professor, School of Education
Dean Gretchen Givens Generett discussed the role women play in education & the opportunities in education with colleagues Dr. Tina Chekan, Propel Schools’ CEO/Superintendent, and Dr. Alicia Harvey-Smith on, Pittsburgh Technical College’s President, on KDKA's Intersections.
Our students visited the Tohaali Community School which serves a Navajo population in rural New Mexico. They shared experiences of learning together alongside the middle school students.
Maggie Burke shared the obstacles she overcame as a young student and how she will take that insight and her preparation in our B.S.Ed. Early Childhood Education and M.S.Ed. Reading & Literacy Education program to make an impact in the lives of young learners as a reading specialist.
Zoe Brunick, an Early Childhood Education/PreK-4 student, asks elementary through high school students to imagine a life without teachers. The students also tell her about their favorite teachers, qualities that make a good teacher, their advice for teachers and more.
Mwango Kasuba is inspired by enduring connections. Whether he’s enhancing campus culture through his position with Student Government Association, sharing the School of Education’s mission with incoming students as an ambassador, or studying historical events alongside peers, he knows what he wants to achieve and remains committed to building better communities through education.
Hetanshi Shah has wanted to be a teacher since preschool. The York, Pa., native recalls playing school with friends over the years, realigning her career plans as time went on to coincide with her current grade. “In kindergarten, I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. I changed my preferred grade level every year until I hit fifth grade,” she said. “I’ve stuck with fifth grade ever since.”
Matt Heckmann, E’13, GE’16, is known for his love of golf, decaf coffee and Duquesne University. Working toward his third degree on the Bluff, a doctorate in educational leadership, this newly minted principal spends his days inspiring faculty, staff and students at Hosack Elementary in McCandless, Pa.
Dr. Gretchen Givens Generett, Dean of our School of Education, weighs in on the launch
of the $10M student teacher stipend program just unveiled and available to college
education students in the Pittsburgh region. School of Education Early Childhood Education
student Zoe Brunick shares her excitement. "The thing I’m most proud of is being a servant in all aspects of my life—public service,
education, and not just as mayor or mom or wife or community member. We all don’t
get the opportunity to serve and connect or make a difference, so it’s important to
show up when you do.” - Dr. Kenya Johns, Ph.D.'21 | Mayor of Beaver Falls “The citizenry of the United States absolutely rests on having knowledgeable, informed
people make a choice for their elected officials," Dr. Fran Serenka shares with the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in their article covering how schools across Pittsburgh are
engaging students in learning about this year's election. Hear more from Dr. Serenka
our Program Director of the Educational Administration & Supervision programs on this
and what schools are doing to engage young learners. “As a Secondary Education English major, I learned quickly that it was important to
me to teach empathy, creativity, and identity through the performing arts. Being able
to apply myself to creating an authentic research-based performance in Medea reaffirms
my passions as an English educator, and helps to keep me on my toes when I’m teaching
in my classroom. If I can wake up and teach my students each day, and get up on that
stage and perform each night, there’s nothing I can’t do.” - Susie Betten | B.S.Ed.
Secondary Education, English '24 Duquesne University's Reading & Literacy Education professor and Reading Clinic Director
Dr. Carla Meyer shared on 90.5 WESA regarding new literacy standards and how reading
instruction is adapting! Duquesne University's School of Education is ensuring our
curriculum aligns with statewide standards based on the science of reading. Dr. Chao's work in ESL (English as a Second Language) "builds fundamental foundations
for mutual understanding between people, especially those from different cultural
and linguistic backgrounds..human contact, human understanding, and communication
builds a mutual understanding between people."
Featured content
$10M Student Teacher Stipend Program for PA
It's Important to Show Up
The 2024 Election & Civics in Pittsburgh Classrooms, Dr. Serenka Shares Insight
Taking Literature and Learning to the Stage
Dr. Meyer Leading in Reading Education
Building Bridges through ESL
Information sourced from Zippia, the Pew Research Center, American Counseling Association, American School Counselor Association, Learn.org, Psychology Today and Duquesne's Graduate Outcomes Survey
96% of our graduates reported that their career position was related to their major. They are making an impact in the fields of K-12 education, higher education, healthcare and many other settings as educators, teachers, counselors & school psychologists, administrators, and more. 82% of our graduates who reported they will be attending graduate school, indicated that they will attend Duquesne University. This information is from the most recent graduate-reported outcomes data for our School of Education.
I know from firsthand experiences how great Duquesne’s School of Education is: preparing not just educators, but educators who are leaders serving communities, students and families.
There are many more careers out there that you can choose from. Some more lucrative, some with more flexibility, some that may feel more honored but your choice allows you to impact thousands of students. One lesson at a time! One conversation at a time! One student at a time!
When a school understands a child’s needs it can bring in the right services, provide more empathy toward the student and give the best chance for success, even if there are limitations due to chronic illness.
A large part of who I am and where I am today is a result of my experience at Duquesne and my time as a graduate student within the School of Education. I will never take the lessons learned or friends that I made for granted, and I will always be grateful for the career that I have and the privilege of helping others daily. Go Dukes!
I love being able to find ways to best support my students even if they can’t always verbally tell me what they need....My Duquesne education has helped me to become not only an advocate for myself, but for others.
I’m looking to go back to my first love, which was education. When I started class, I thought it might interfere with my work and school board responsibilities....I found that it’s enhanced everything.
I’m reminded every day of the lasting impact Duquesne has left upon me. Whether it be in my teaching, my research or my service to the profession and community, I approach counselor education from, and for, the mind, heart & spirit. This is what my professors modeled for me...and this is exactly how I continue to serve as a model for the future counselors I currently train.
After graduation, he "barely had a chance to exhale and was drafted into the U.S. Army" and served two years. After his dedication and service, Alex decided to apply at the Pittsburgh Board of Education, was accepted and worked "teaching exceptional children for about 32 years...it was a great experience and a wonderful time to do it"
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