Rutgers University, Graduate School of Education, Dean

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher M. Span, Ph.D., as dean of the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, effective July 1, 2024. Prior to this role, Span held several prominent administrative roles, most recently serving as chief of staff and associate chancellor for administration and pre-K-12 initiatives at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he oversaw strategies and fostered collaborations to advance the university’s mission. Previously, Span served as an associate dean in the College of Education at Illinois for more than 10 years, where he helped shape curricular development and oversaw student affairs. He also was a faculty athletics representative for both the university and the Big Ten Conference.

Span’s research focuses on the educational history of African Americans, particularly during the 19th century. He is widely recognized as a leading authority in this field and has authored several influential works, including From Cotton Field to Schoolhouse: African American Education in Mississippi, 1862-1875. Additionally, Span is a co-editor of Using Past as Prologue: Contemporary Perspectives on African American Educational History and has contributed numerous articles and book chapters on the subject.

Span earned a PhD in Education, Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Pam Pezzoli and Carrie Alexander led this search with Rachel Brown and Melissa Barravecchio.

The full press release can be found here.