UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State College of Education Dean Kimberly Lawless, who has led the college since 2019, is stepping down from her role as dean, effective Oct. 15, and will return to the college’s faculty.
“We deeply appreciate all that Kim has done to lead the College of Education over the past six years in its teaching, research and outreach efforts,” said Fotis Sotiropoulos, Penn State executive vice president and provost. “Her passion for the mission, her commitment to students and faculty, and her ability to forge meaningful partnerships have positioned the college for continued excellence well into the future.”
Sotiropoulos has asked Lawless to explore possibilities for new approaches for the use of artificial intelligence in education, utilizing her knowledge and expertise in instructional technology to examine how education can be reimagined with AI. She will undertake a comprehensive analysis of how AI is impacting teaching and learning, and, through the creation of a national collaborative, the potential ways in which AI can advance the field of education. She will use these insights to inform the provost on future, AI-focused strategic initiatives.
As dean, Lawless oversaw the college’s four academic departments and 11 research centers and clinics, which together serve about 3,700 undergraduate and graduate students.
“It has been an extraordinary honor to lead the Penn State College of Education on such a bold and ambitious trajectory,” Lawless said. “Together, we have reimagined what is possible in teaching, learning and research. The lasting impact of these changes can be seen in the lives of our students and the communities we serve. I am deeply proud of what we have accomplished and excited to see how the college will continue to build on this momentum in the years ahead. I look forward to helping the college and the University become leading change agents in the future of education in an AI-immersed world.”
During her tenure as dean, Lawless led the college in launching multiple new educational pathways, including a master of education in medical education, the social justice in education minor, the Teachers in Residency Program, WorkLink, ExCEL, a bachelor of arts pathway for individuals in the criminal justice system, and the online Doctor of Education Program, which has an 18% acceptance rate.
Under Lawless’ leadership, the College of Education achieved an 11% increase in undergraduate enrollment between fall 2020 and fall 2025, and a 34% increase in undergraduate student credit-hour generation from fiscal year 2019 to 2025. Since fall 2020, the college has achieved a 19% increase in undergraduate degrees awarded.
The college raised more than $50 million in philanthropic commitments and $24 million in receipts. These funds have helped expand student scholarships and create endowed professorships, as well as provide support to initiatives such as the Krause Pedagogical Innovation Lab, the Journey Student Success Center, the Office of Education and Social Equity, the Restorative Justice Initiative, and the Prison Education Program. In addition, Lawless personally established the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship in 2020, further demonstrating her commitment to access and equity.
Also under Lawless, the College of Education’s research expenditures grew from approximately $9.9 million in fiscal year 2019 to about $23.5 million in fiscal year 2024.
Lawless designed and implemented a recruitment plan that reshaped hiring practices and brought 47 new faculty (25 tenure-line, 22 non-tenure-line) with diverse and critical expertise to the college. She also led the hiring of all current associate deans and department heads, strengthening the college’s leadership team and forging a robust foundation for long-term success.
A nationally recognized scholar in educational psychology, Lawless has authored more than 100 scholarly works across the span of her career. Her research focuses on STEM education, with a particular emphasis on using technology and real-world contexts to engage underrepresented students in science learning.
Before coming to Penn State, Lawless served as associate dean for research in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she spent two decades as a faculty member and administrator.
Lawless earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston College and both her master’s and doctoral degrees in educational psychology from the University of Connecticut.
The University will appoint an interim dean in the coming weeks and a national search for a permanent dean will commence later this fall.