Marty Hatton has been named dean of the School of Education at Mississippi University for Women.
Hatton has been part of many firsts in more than 27 years at MUW. Whether it has been as a student, instructor or administrator, Hatton has played a role in the evolution of The W.
On July 1, Hatton will add another accomplishment to his list when he takes over as the first dean of the School of Education, pending approval by the state Board of Trustees, Institutions of Higher Learning.
“I am thrilled to continue to work with the programs aligned into the new School of Education,” Hatton said. “I’ve worked with these programs for several years in several of my previous positions that include interim dean, associate vice president for academic affairs (AVPAA) and division head. Having the opportunity to continue this work alongside the outstanding faculty and staff of the new School of Education, in this new capacity, is particularly rewarding.
“This is an amazing time to be working with likeminded professionals all dedicated to innovation from preschool through post-graduation in a complete lifelong learning model of education.”
Earlier this year, The W created the School of Education to strengthen the next generation of educators and provide lifelong learning opportunities. It will feature the Department of Education, Office of Outreach & Innovation, Child & Parent Development Center, Mississippi Governor’s School, Summer Discovery and the Complete-to-Compete (C2C) initiative. With the exception of the Department of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences will be made up of its existing academic departments. All departments and divisions will remain in their current physical location. The school’s administrative offices are in the Education and Human Sciences building.
About Hatton
Hatton graduated from The W in 1988 and returned to the school as an instructor in the fall of 1992. He served as a program coordinator for five years, a department chair for five years, an interim dean for two years, as the AVPAA and director for graduate studies for 11 years and most recently as the head of the Division of Education and Outreach for two years.
The W President Nora Miller said Hatton’s wealth of experience will be a vital asset in his new role.
“In the past four years he has worked with the various units that form the School of Education to model best practices in structure and support for these programs, their students and the communities they serve,” Miller said. “This is an exciting time for Education programs, and Dr. Hatton’s experience and enthusiasm will serve the School of Education well.”
Hatton said his new position will involve increased strategic leadership responsibilities from that of chair or division head. The new School of Education’s design includes an enhanced broad-based learner responsibility with the inclusion of Complete to Compete (C2C), but those responsibilities are extensions of the work Hatton has done previously.
Hatton also said the School of Education isn’t expected to change course, and that he feels the new designation should strengthen and extend the effectiveness of the initiatives that started under the former Division of Education and Outreach structure.
He is excited to tackle the challenges of meeting the needs of students and communities in a constantly changing educational landscape. Hatton is confident The W will continue to help to chart the course for education.
In the fall of 2019, the university formed the Education and Outreach Structure Working Group consisting of members from each of unit of the Division of Education & Outreach. The group evaluated the division’s overall fit within the structure of the university and conducted a campus-wide listening session. The result was the group recommending the formation of the School of Education. The formation of the School of Education will merge closely related functions that will assist one another in managing programs while simultaneously providing a foundation for the growth of the school’s academic programs.
To apply to The W, contact the Office of Admissions at 662-329-7106 or visit muw.edu.
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