Kelli Feldman named dean of the VCU School of Education – VCU News

By VCU News staff

Kelli Feldman, Ph.D., has been selected as dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education, effective March 17, 2025.

Feldman has served as the associate dean for teacher education and undergraduate programs at the University of Kansas School of Education and Human Sciences since 2015. The VCU Board of Visitors will officially consider her appointment at its December meeting.

“I am honored to join Virginia Commonwealth University as the next dean of the School of Education. The impactful work of the talented faculty, staff and students who contribute to the school’s outstanding reputation is impressive,” Feldman said. “The commitment to student success, research and innovation, and shaping the future of our communities resonates with my own values and aspirations for the field of education.”

She added that the school’s dual mission of advancing research and actively engaging with the community is something she finds both inspiring and motivating.

“I am excited to collaborate with the school, across the broader university and with community partners to build upon the strong foundation already established for translating research into practical application for society,” Feldman said. “Together, we will work to further elevate VCU’s and the school’s influence through research and the preparation of great teachers, leaders and counselors.”

Feldman began her career in 1991 as a middle school and elementary school teacher at the Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Würzburg, Germany. A decade later, she served as an assistant professor of elementary education at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.

Feldman joined the University of Kansas in 2002 as an assistant professor of mathematics education. She became an associate professor in 2008 and a full professor in 2023. She has served as associate dean for nearly a decade.

“Dr. Feldman brings over 25 years of experience as an educator, researcher and academic administrator to the VCU School of Education,” said Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “Her research is both broad and deep, addressing critical topics such as educator preparation, assessment and evaluation, mathematics and science education, and students’ mathematical reasoning.

“What truly stands out is her profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the field of education, informed by her unique perspective as both a researcher and a teacher,” Sotiropoulos said. “Her experience includes teaching in public schools, including the Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Germany, providing her with invaluable insights into the realities of the classroom. I am thrilled to welcome a leader, researcher and educator of her caliber to VCU, and I look forward to working alongside her and our outstanding School of Education faculty and staff to elevate the school to new heights of excellence.”

Feldman earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Missouri, a master’s degree from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant and a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas.

In a message Wednesday to the School of Education, Sotiropoulos thanked the co-chairs of the search committee – Carmenita Higginbotham, Ph.D., dean of the School of the Arts, and Genevieve Siegel-Hawley, Ph.D., professor of educational leadership – as well as Kathleen Rudasill, Ph.D., for serving as interim dean of the School of Education.

“Since Dr. Rudasill assumed that role nearly two years ago, in March 2023, the school has seen significant growth in sponsored research funding and student enrollment, and I’m grateful for her leadership,” Sotiropoulos wrote.