College of Education Dean's Office

Office Hours
Academic Year: M-F, 8am - 12pm, 1pm - 4:30pm
Summer: M-F, 8am - 12pm, 12:30pm - 4pm

Rebecca West Burns, Ph.D.

Dean of College of Education | Beekey 231A
burns@kutztown.edu

Dr. Rebecca West Burns was named Dean of the College of Education in Summer 2023.

Burns is a nationally recognized leader in teacher education, having served in leadership positions for the National Association for Professional Development Schools, the American Education Research Association Professional Development Schools Research Special Interest Group and Supervision and Instructional Leadership Special Interest Group and the Council of Professors of Instructional Supervision. She also has received national recognition for her exemplary school-university collaboration and impact on urban education. Burns has authored and co-authored more than 60 publications, including four books, and has given more than 130 presentations in local, state, regional, national and international contexts.

Burns came to KU from the University of North Florida, where she served as the Bill Herrold Endowed Professor in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum and the director of Clinical Practice and Educational Partnerships. Prior to that, she was an associate professor at the University of South Florida where she taught for nine years and served stints as program coordinator for the Urban Teacher Residency Partnership Program, the Teacher Leadership Graduate Certificate Program, the elementary education program, the Master of Arts in elementary education program and the Teacher Education Doctoral program.

Thomas Conway, Ed.D.

Associate Dean of College of Education | Beekey 233A
tconway@kutztown.edu

Dr. Tom Conway is a life-long educator and taught high school and college courses in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He earned his Education Doctorate in educational leadership from Saint Joseph’s University in 2010, a Master of Arts in theological and pastoral studies from La Salle University in 1998, and a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education/social studies from La Salle University in 1994.  Before coming to Kutztown, he served as Chairperson of Teacher Education and Honors Program Director at Cabrini University. While at Cabrini, he taught courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He also was awarded Cabrini’s Distinguished Faculty Award for scholarship for the publications of his two edited books: “Engaged clinical practice: Preparing Mentor Teachers,” and “Collaborative Models for Clinical Practice: Reflections from the Field.” In 2022, he won Cabrini’s Distinguished Faculty Award for external service to the profession.

 Dr. Conway currently serves as the President of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (PAC-TE). For PAC-TE, he is also co-editor of The Pennsylvania Educator, PAC-TE’s academic journal. For the Associated of Teacher Educators, he is a member of the Board of Directors representing University and Colleges.