Lehigh Names William Gaudelli Next Dean of the College of Education

William Gaudelli, professor of social studies and chair of the department of arts and humanities at Columbia University’s Teachers College, has been named the next dean of Lehigh’s College of Education. He will succeed Gary Sasso, who last year announced his plans to retire after a decade leading the highly regarded College of Education. Gaudelli will officially begin his new role at Lehigh on July 31.
 
Lehigh President John D. Simon said he is excited to welcome Gaudelli to Lehigh this summer.
 
“Dr. Gaudelli has written about and speaks with great passion about the ways in which education can prepare students for an increasingly complex and interdependent world and how universities can help chart a new direction for learning that is expansive and inclusive,” he said. “I can think of no perspective more appropriate for shaping the educators of the future, and I look forward to working with Dr. Gaudelli on this broad goal.”
 
Provost Pat Farrell said that Gaudelli is coming aboard at a time of great promise for the College of Education, which grew in research prominence under Sasso’s leadership, earned international distinction for early development education, and recently opened the newly created Autism Clinic that is employing state-of-the-art methods to help children with autism gain language skills and improve social interaction.

“We are confident that Bill will be able to build on these accomplishments, continue to attract accomplished faculty, and leverage the college’s existing strengths to elevate its profile across the academy,” Farrell said. “He will be a welcome addition to Lehigh’s administrative team, particularly at a time when we are moving forward with the Path to Prominence, and expanding our research footprint.”