KINGSTON, R.I. — May 8, 2017 — The University of Rhode Island has named R. Anthony Rolle the new dean of its Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies. Rolle, department chair and professor of the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies at the University of Houston, is expected to begin his duties at URI in early July 2017.
“Dr. Rolle is an accomplished leader and scholar who is known for his research and teaching on education finance and economic policy,” said Donald H. DeHayes, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “At the University of Houston, he has demonstrated true leadership in program, budget, and faculty development. He also made improvements in the curriculum for higher education, professional leadership, and special populations programs. He’s a natural fit to grow our new college and has the enthusiasm and experience to lead and strategically advance the Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies.”
Drawn to URI because of the unique combination of a school of education with a school of professional studies, Rolle says “It just made sense to me: An organization that prepares individuals for the workforce; and, an organization that extends professional development opportunities for individuals to re-enter or to advance within the workforce, What an opportunity to share experiences and create avenues for success that will allow individuals to become upwardly mobile both academically and economically.”
At the University of Houston since 2014, Rolle leads a department that includes 21 full-time faculty and three graduate degree programs all focused on developing leadership and policy to guide education in America. From his work at Houston, and in earlier positions at Texas A&M University and the University of South Florida, Rolle is recognized for his K-12 education finance and policy research that has led to new models to measure effectiveness and efficiency in public school systems. He has conducted and managed nationally and internationally recognized education finance and policy research projects for various government and non-profit organizations.
“The search committee found Dr. Rolle to be an experienced scholar and administrator who demonstrated creative thinking and successful experience in making difficult curriculum changes to keep pace with changing student needs,” said Vice Provost Dean Libutti, chair of the search committee. Dr. Rolle’s wealth of knowledge and breadth of experience will serve him well in leading the college, its programs, and faculty.”
Referred to by his friends and colleagues as a “big thinker” or a “builder,” Rolle says “I enjoy working with individuals and organizations to create opportunities for individuals to succeed. Through my academic and research training I bring a knowledge of economics, finance, and budgeting and how these concepts can be aligned to encourage academic, administrative and professional excellence. When in Rhode Island, I look forward to working with faculty, students, staff, administrators, and the URI community to create opportunities for individuals to experience success.”
Rolle’s research regarding the financing of public education has appeared in numerous scholarly journals, and he has presented frequently at national scholarly research organizations, such as the National Education Finance Conference and the American Educational Research Association. He is author, co-author, or contributor to numerous books and articles, including: To What Ends and By What Means? The Social Justice Implications of Contemporary School Finance Theory and Policy, Modern Education Finance and Policy, Journal of Education Finance, and Peabody Journal of Education: Special Issue on K-12 Education Finance –New Directions for Future Research.
Rolle is the 2017 president of the National Education Finance Academy, an organization providing national leadership on integrating educational research and policy in a dynamic way to address critical issues in education. He also holds an appointment as a Distinguished Research Fellow at Shanghai Academy of Education Sciences that supports the development of comparative and internationally focused K-20 educational leadership and policy initiatives. He serves on editorial and advisory boards for national journals including Educational Considerations, Journal for Effective Schools, National Education Finance Conference, Journal of Education Finance, and is a research fellow for the Education and Public Interest Center & Education Policy Research Unit.
Rolle earned a doctorate in education policy studies from Indiana University, a master of public administration from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Santa Clara University. In each graduate program, Rolle concentrated his studies on K-12 education finance and economics, policy analysis and organizational management.
Rolle will succeed Dean Lori E. Ciccomascolo who was serving in a term appointment of three years. Provost DeHayes said, “I would like to thank Dr. Ciccomascolo and acknowledge her for the leadership and commitment she demonstrated during the time of transition to this new College. Her deep understanding of the college’s mission and her work have served our students, faculty and the community very well. We are fortunate that she stepped into this role at such a critical time.”
The University community will welcome Dr. Rolle and his family to Rhode Island this summer.