Lisa Harrison named dean of Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education

Ohio University Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Elizabeth Sayrs has named Dr. Lisa Harrison as the dean of the Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education, effective June 1, 2024.

Harrison has served as interim dean of the college since May 1, 2023, after former interim dean Dr. Sara Helfrich left Ohio University for a position at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

“Dr. Lisa Harrison has done exceptional work in her role as the interim dean, and I am thrilled that she will now serve in the permanent dean role,” Sayrs said. “She is an experienced leader and an award-winning educator, and I am confident that she will help the Patton College and Ohio University continue to move forward in our mission to serve our students and the region.”

Harrison, who is a professor in the Department of Teacher Education, previously served as the interim associate dean of research and graduate studies for the Patton College, as well as the middle childhood program coordinator. She first joined the Patton College and Ohio University in 2010.

During her time at OHIO, Harrison has received numerous honors and awards for her work, including being selected as a MAC Academic Leadership Development Program Fellow. In addition, Harrison received the Association for Middle Level Education John H. Lounsbury Award for Distinguished Service in Middle Level Education, the Vincent Anfara Jr. Outstanding Middle Level Research Award, and an Ohio University Faculty Newsmaker Award. 

Harrison is also active with several professional boards and organizations at Ohio University and nationally, including serving as a member of the Margaret Boyd Scholars Faculty Advisory Board at OHIO, member of the Ohio University Mission and Vision Committee, chair of the Board of Trustees for the Association of Middle Level Education, chair of the American Educational Research Association - Middle Level Education Research Special Interest Group, and co-editor of the Middle School Journal.

Harrison entered the field of education as a middle school mathematics teacher in her hometown of Brooklyn, New York. Her interest in humanizing pedagogies and educational equity led to her pursuing a Ph.D. in Middle School Education from the University of Georgia. She also holds an M.S.T in Adolescent Education from Pace University in New York, and a B.S. in Mathematics from Spelman College in Atlanta.

The search committee chairs for the dean position were Scripps College of Communication Dean Scott Titsworth, Professor Christine Bhat, and Associate Professor Sara Hartman.

“I want to thank all of the members of the search committee for their time and dedication to this process,” Sayrs said. “They bought forward a strong pool of candidates, and I am grateful for their insights and commitment.”