Mary John O'Hair

Mary John O'Hair has been named the ninth dean of the University of Kentucky College of Education. O'Hair comes to UK from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., where she has served as vice provost for school and community partnerships since 2006. She has been with OU since 1994, and has held the positions of professor of educational leadership and policy, director of educational administration, curriculum and supervision, and associate dean of research and graduate studies in the OU College of Education.

"I am extremely excited and honored to join UK's College of Education as dean," O'Hair said. "What attracted me to this college was not only the rigorous academic environment, innovative programs, and world-class researchers, but the college's strong commitment to explore and address critical issues affecting learning and education. The dedication and passion to making an excellent education a daily reality for every student in every community across Kentucky and beyond was contagious for me.

"I look forward to developing strong educational partnerships that help ensure our students become leaders in their schools, organizations and communities, and I look forward to working collaboratively with President Todd, Provost Subbaswamy, and the college's faculty, staff and students in support of academic excellence and the university's Top 20 vision."

As a former teacher, faculty member and administrator, O'Hair has shown a commitment to educational excellence through her academic and professional achievements, and she brings a strong background of experience in teaching and learning, research and innovation, and professional practice.

From 1989 to 1994, before locating to Oklahoma, O'Hair served as assistant and associate professor in the Division of Educational Psychology and Leadership at Texas Tech University, earning tenure in 1993. Prior to her time there, O'Hair taught as an assistant professor and served as director of secondary teaching in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at New Mexico State University. In addition, she worked as a graduate research assistant and also taught eighth grade reading in New Mexico prior to earning her Ed.D.

O'Hair's research and teaching interests lie in school-university-community partnerships, learning communities in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and math) and international education networking. She has received over $40 million in funding and grants to support her research.

"Mary John O'Hair has a long history of marshaling a research university's resources to transform school systems in Oklahoma," UK Provost Kumble Subbaswamy said. "She also has been very successful in tapping federal support for developing evidence-based interventions. I believe her background and experience will serve not only our College of Education well, but also K-12 education in the Commonwealth."

Receiving her bachelor's degree in speech communication from Texas Tech University in 1979, O'Hair went on to receive her master's degree in communication from the University of Oklahoma shortly thereafter. In 1984, she received her M.Ed. from Texas Christian University as a reading specialist and then received her Ed.D. from New Mexico State University in 1987, focusing on educational management and development. She is involved in multiple professional associations including the American Educational Research Association and the University Council for Education Administration, and was the founding director of International Networks for Democratic Education in 2001. She also has served as an executive board member for the Association of Teacher Educators.