Conversations with the Dean are casual, discussion-style webinars led by BU Wheelock Dean Penny Bishop that dig in on some of the most pressing topics in education with leading experts in the field. All events are virtual and most are held on Thursdays, 3–3:45 pm.
Watch previous events or sign up for our e-newsletter to stay up to date about upcoming events.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, October 8, 2024: New Year, New Potential
Register for 10/8
For the very first webinar of the year, get to know Dean Penny Bishop and learn more about her background as an educator and her vision for BU Wheelock. Dean Bishop and Anthony Jack will reflect on some of the issues and concerns many educators face, including exploring the best ways to help all students—especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds—to thrive.
Featuring:
Dean Penny Bishop, BU Wheelock
Anthony Jack, Faculty Director, Newbury Center, and Associate Professor, Higher Education Leadership
October 17, 2024: How AI Will Change Education
Register for 10/17
Join a discussion that will explore how BU Wheelock and Quincy Public Schools are working together to mitigate a reactive response and incorporate AI in the classroom in proactive and thoughtful ways.
Featuring:
Naomi Caselli, director, BU AI & Education Initiative, and associate professor, BU Wheelock
Michael Marani, director of curriculum, Quincy Public Schools
Previous Events
2024 webinars
May 9, 2024: End of Term: Reflections from the Dean
For a very special final webinar, the tables will be turned on Dean Chard as he is interviewed about his experiences as dean of BU Wheelock before he steps down.
- David Chard, dean and professor
- Mary L. Churchill, associate dean, Strategic Initiatives & Community Engagement; program director, Higher Education Administration; and professor of the practice
Resources Recording
May 2, 2024: School Discipline and Policing
With increasing evidence about the disproportionate impact of discipline decisions and the profound equity implications associated with the school-to-prison pipeline, studying efforts to get it right are critically important to making sure a safe and supportive school environment is fostered for all students.
- Christopher Cleveland, research assistant professor, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
- Jennifer Greif Green, professor, Special Education
Resources Recording
April 4, 2024: The Changing Face of “Traditional” Teacher Preparation
- Meagan Comb, assistant dean, executive affairs, and executive director, Wheelock Educational Policy Center
- Eleonora Villegas-Reimers, clinical professor and chair, Teaching & Learning Department
Resources Recording
March 28, 2024: Creating a Sustained, Thriving Special Education Teacher Workforce—What Will It Take?
While students in need of special education services currently make up about 15% of all public-school enrollments, teachers with special education expertise are in short supply. We’ll discuss the factors contributing to the shortage, as well as possible solutions.
Resources Recording
February 29, 2024: Helping Students Leverage STEM to Solve Big World Problems
We are in an era of STEM obsession–with billions of dollars being spent on STEM education–and yet we continue to struggle to fill STEM careers. We’ll discuss centering meaningful learning and how to address some of our biggest challenges.
Resources Recording
February 15, 2024: The Psychology of Excellence
Explore sport psychology research that helps individuals and teams attain optimal levels of mental well-being and performance.
- Edson Filho, associate professor and director, Performance, Recovery & Optimization (PRO) Lab
Resources Recording
February 1, 2024: The Science of Reading: How the National Movement is Playing Out in Teacher Prep
Explore the national dialogue on teaching children to read and the impact it is having here in Massachusetts. BU Wheelock experts discuss how to improve reading outcomes while at the same time instilling a joy of reading.
- Katherine Frankel, associate professor and chair, Language & Literacy Education
- Nancy J. Nelson, assistant professor, Special Education, and deputy director, National Center on Improving Literacy (NCIL) and Lead for Literacy Center
Resources Recording
January 18, 2024: Critical Equity-Centric Research in Higher Education
Explore research efforts centering racial equity and explore the evolving and challenging climate within higher education for antiracist scholarship.
Resources Recording
December 14: College is for Everybody: Creating Welcoming Campuses
A discussion about the systems that support first-generation college students within higher education.
- Anthony Jack, associate professor and faculty director, Newbury Center
Resources Recording
November 30: Early Childhood Investment
Explore Massachusetts’ major new investments in early childhood education. Where is that money going—and what changes can we expect to come from it?
- Stephanie Curenton, professor and director, Center on the Ecology of Early Development (CEED)
- Amy O’Leary, instructor and executive director, Strategies for Children
Resources Recording
