Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher Appointed Dean of School of Education
Following a comprehensive national search, Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher has been named the new Renée and Richard Goldman Endowed Dean of the School of Education, effective May 1, 2024.
Zamani-Gallaher had been serving as Interim Dean of the school since August 2023 and is a professor in the Department of Educational Foundations, Organizations, and Policy.
Prior to her role as Interim Dean, Zamani-Gallaher served as the School of Education’s Associate Dean for Equity, Justice, and Strategic Partnerships. She came to Pitt in July 2022 from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Education, where she was a professor and spent seven years as director of the Office for Community College Research and Leadership. While there, she also worked as associate head of the Department of Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership, and as associate dean of the Graduate College.
“I am honored and excited to serve as the Renée and Richard Goldman Endowed Dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Education,” says Zamani-Gallaher. “The school has an amazing community of scholars and learners and is supported by many talented staff and alumni. The School’s mission-vision aligns with my work as a scholar and leader, and I believe the school is poised to reach new heights in the areas of K-12 and higher education, human development, exercise, health, and wellness.”
Research and Leadership
Zamani-Gallaher is an accomplished scholar whose research has generated nearly $10.5 million in funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lumina Foundation, National Science Foundation, and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation among others. Her research focuses on access policies, participation, retention and outcomes of minoritized student populations in marginalized institutional contexts; community college transfer, racial equity, and campus climate in postsecondary education pathways.
In addition to her work at Pitt, Zamani-Gallaher is actively involved with a variety of professional organizations. She is currently executive director of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC), which has its administrative headquarters at the School of Education. Additionally, she is President-Elect of the Association for the Study of Higher Education, a member of the Community College Review Editorial Board, an advisory board member for the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, and on the Black Learner Excellence Expert Advisory Committee.
In recognition of her leadership in the field of higher education, Zamani-Gallaher has earned numerous notable recognitions, including being named an American Educational Research Association Fellow and American College Personnel Association Senior Scholar. Other achievements include earning the CSCC Arthur M. Cohen and Florence B. Brawer Distinguished Service Award; DIVERSE: Issues in Higher Education Diverse Champions Award; National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Community College Research Award; the Association for the Study of Higher Education Council on Ethnic Participation Mildred García Award for Exemplary Scholarship and the Founder’s Service Award, among others.
Zamani-Gallaher holds a PhD in educational organization and leadership from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an MS in general experimental psychology and BS in psychology from Western Illinois University.
The Next Chapter Begins
University of Pittsburgh Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Joe McCarthy praised Zamani-Gallaher’s leadership and commitment to the school.
“Eboni’s exceptional experience and expertise—and her demonstrated and deep dedication to the mission-vision of the School of Education and the work of its faculty, students, staff, and alumni—make her the ideal choice for charting the course for the school’s next chapter,” said McCarthy in a message to the university that announced the deanship appointment.
When it comes to establishing priorities as the new dean, Zamani-Gallaher will continue to build on initiatives and partnerships aligned with the school’s mission-vision.
“The School of Education is a special place, with lots of momentum and excitement around our next steps. I look forward to advancing new initiatives and programs that highlight our signature strengths and amplify our broader impact,” says Zamani-Gallaher.
She continues: “It is a privilege to build on our school’s commitment to academic excellence, impactful research, community partnerships, global perspectives, and alumni outreach. Together, we will ignite learning and spark positive change that supports P-20 learners”.
Zamani-Gallaher succeeds Valerie Kinloch, who served as dean of the School of Education from 2017-2023.
