The University of Dayton has named Alison Carr-Chellman, an experienced professor, administrator and national expert in education technology and instructional design, dean of the School of Education and Health Sciences.

Carr-Chellman, who begins her new position July 1, is currently dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences at the University of Idaho, a land-grant institution with more than 11,000 students. Her previous experience also includes 22 years at Penn State University, where she was a full professor, department head and a leader in the area of instructional systems. 

“During the search process, Dr. Carr-Chellman demonstrated her commitment to the Catholic and Marianist mission and core educational values of the University of Dayton,” said Provost Paul Benson. “She has a record as a highly communicative, relational and inclusive academic leader. Her enthusiasm and vision for our School of Education and Health Sciences, along with her evident zest for creative institutional innovation, inspired all of us throughout the search.”

As dean at the University of Idaho since 2016, Carr-Chellman focused in part on hiring more diverse faculty, advancing faculty and student research, and increasing fundraising. She has more than 150 scholarly publications, including six books. She has consulted on major instructional design and systems projects for clients in higher education, K-12 education, corporate and non-profit settings, and the military. She also has led major sponsored research projects, including most recently a $3 million Learning with Technology project. Her 2010 TED talk, “Gaming to re-engage boys in learning,” has been viewed more than 1 million times. Carr-Chellman holds a doctor of philosophy degree from Indiana University; and a master’s degree in instructional design, development and evaluation, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, both from Syracuse University. 

“I am honored to join the University of Dayton family as dean of the School of Education and Health Sciences,” Carr-Chellman said. “This school creates professionals who truly change the world at the nexus of health and education — two of the most important issues across the nation and the state of Ohio. As a native Ohioan, I am excited to collaboratively contribute to the university for the common good through curricula, research and partnerships based on Marianist traditions. During my visit, I was so impressed by what an innovative, welcoming, purposeful and well-run institution UD is and I look forward to more fully immersing myself in the Flyer community."

The University of Dayton School of Education and Health Sciences offers more than 35 academic programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels in the areas of counselor education and human services; educational administration; health and sport science; physical therapy; physician assistant education; and teacher education. Its undergraduate students reported a 99% success rate within six months of graduation in the most recent Flyer First Destination Survey.