Kennedy ranks 3rd among country's 'most influential' education deans

Craig H. Kennedy, dean of the University of Georgia College of Education, has been named the third "most influential" dean of education by Mometrix Test Preparation.

The annual list ranks 30 deans from colleges of education across the United States. In compiling the awards, Mometrix analyzes state and national honors, program and degree rankings and new teachers' starting salaries.

Kennedy came to the College in January 2013. In the years since, the College has garnered national recognition for its programs and faculty, as well as increased enrollment. Honors from U.S. News & World Report for 2015 include:

• Ranked 33rd overall among the best graduate schools of education.
• Top-ranked programs, including Counseling and Personnel Services and Vocational/Technical Education; Elementary Education, Secondary Education and Higher Education Administration; and Curriculum/Instruction.
• Ranked 28th for its online master's degree programs.

The College has also seen an increase in research funding in recent years, bringing in more than $16 million from federal and state agencies and nationally known foundations. Sponsored projects span topics in curriculum and instruction, exercise sciences, learning disabilities and mental health.

New and innovative programs also set the College apart from its peers. For example, the Board Certified Behavior Analysis program is one of only two programs of its kind in the state, giving UGA students an option for additional training in this growing field. Specialized clinics such as the UGA Speech and Hearing Clinic provide an outreach service to the community while giving students a valuable training ground to apply research-based methods. And nearly two dozen labs in the College's Department of Kinesiology study health issues such as the effects chronic diseases and obesity have on the body.

Enrolling around 4,300 students every year, the UGA College of Education is one of the largest of its kind in the country. Degree programs span nine departments with programs in teacher prep, sport/health sciences, counseling, special education and organizational leadership.