Dr. Gretchen Givens Generett Re-Appointed to Another Term as School of Education Dean

“In her role as dean, Dean Generett has successfully strengthened and expanded numerous connections between the School of Education and community educational organizations across public and private schools and an array of professional organizations,” said Gormley. “She is a fabulous ambassador for the University and a skilled administrator who fosters a sense of common mission among faculty and staff colleagues and who leads by example.” 

Generett started her first term as Dean of the School in 2021, after a brief period as interim dean that started in 2020. Under her leadership, the School received accreditation reaffirmation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), becoming one of only five institutions in the state of Pennsylvania to hold the prestigious accreditation.  Accreditation reaffirmation was also received by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the American Psychological Association (APA). 
 
Early in her time as Dean, the School also was a co-recipient, with Robert Morris University, of a nearly $9 million gift to support and extend programs focused on literacy education, with a special emphasis on dyslexia and related reading disabilities. Announced during National Dyslexia Awareness Month in 2022, the gift from Bob and Joan Peirce was the largest ever made in Pennsylvania by individuals to prepare teachers to help those with dyslexia, and among the largest gifts of such a focus ever made in the United States.    
 
Generett also has led successful efforts to draw students into educational fields at Duquesne by articulating the rigor and critical skills needed to be excellent professionals.  "Education professionals – from classroom teachers to administrators, counselors, and higher education staff – are essential workers,” says Generett.  “They play a critical role in helping youth reach their full potential.  Ours is a complex profession with the high standards necessary to prepare the educated population we need and want for a thriving society and we proudly prepare them to lead in ever-evolving educational environments.”  

The holder of the Noble J. Dick Endowed Chair in Community Outreach at Duquesne, Generett has spent the last twenty-eight years in academia researching and teaching on issues of teacher professional development, educational leadership, and cultural diversity. Her academic home is in the Department of Foundations of Educational Leadership within the School, and her teaching and research are designed to enhance the skills and habits of mind necessary for educators to effectively teach students from a variety of backgrounds. 

Generett has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes in the field of education. She is also Past President of the American Educational Studies Association. 

“I am immensely honored to have been reappointed as dean of a School with a mission of inclusion and building community for those on the margins,” Generett said. “I welcome the continued opportunity to foster student and faculty success in the School of Education at Duquesne.”

Duquesne University

Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of nearly 8,200 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University's academic programs, community service and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh region have earned national acclaim.

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