ISU College of Education Highlights Legacy and Growth at Educational Administration Meet & Greet

The Idaho State University College of Education leadership team hosted a Partnering for Progress: Educational Administration Program Meet & Greet on September 23, 2025, facilitated by Dr. Karen Appleby, professor and coordinator of faculty development. The occasion brought together retired faculty, local school administrators, and new program faculty. The event highlighted the program’s legacy, its current initiatives, and its vision for continued growth.

Emeritus Professor Dr. Mark Neill, and retired professor Dr. Patti Mortensen were recognized for their contributions to program excellence and their enduring partnerships across Idaho State University’s service regions (4, 5 and 6). In their remarks, they reflected on the program’s successes, emphasized the importance of cultivating strong regional partnership collaborations, and offered guidance to incoming faculty.

“For me, the most meaningful part was simply having the chance to sit down with people—emeritus faculty, administrators, and colleagues—and hear their perspectives,” said Dr. Donald Hastings, assistant professor in the Department of School Psychology and Educational Leadership. “I loved learning about the strong history of the region and realizing how connected we really are in this work. It felt less like an event and more like a gathering of people who genuinely want to lift each other up.”

Dr. Yi-Chih Chiang, assistant professor in the Department of School Psychology and Educational Leadership said, “As a new faculty in the department, meeting emeritus faculty and local administrators and listening to their conversation helped me learn more about the program’s history and contributions to the local community.”

Local administrators also shared perspectives from the field. Director of Elementary Education at Pocatello Chubbuck School District 25, A. J. Watson, commended the program for consistently producing highly qualified candidates, affirming the impact of rigorous preparation established by retired faculty and now entrusted to the new faculty cohort.

The agenda included updates on enrollment trends, program growth, and accreditation status, alongside discussions of challenges in school leadership and desired competencies for graduates. These conversations affirmed the program’s commitment to aligning curriculum with the evolving needs of schools and communities.

In appreciation of the gathering, Director of Clinical Experiences and a graduate of the educational administration program, Mona Heern, remarked, “These school leaders serve as key thought partners for the College of Education. Through our ongoing partnership efforts, each of these educators has been actively engaged in conversations that shape our teacher and administrator preparation programs, while keeping us connected to the needs of schools at the grassroots level.”

As the University continues to build on President Wagner’s vision for collaborations and partnerships that impact ISU, Idaho, and beyond, the educational administration faculty will continue outreach across all service regions to strengthen existing partnerships, develop new collaborations, and incorporate stakeholder feedback into program improvement and accreditation processes. Interim Dean Esther Ntuli affirmed her commitment to supporting the educational administration programs in these efforts, emphasizing the importance of continued outreach and collaboration.