College of Education Dean Sheri Hardee selected for Impact Academy fellowship

Dr. Sheri Hardee, dean of the University of North Georgia's (UNG) College of Education, has been named to the fifth cohort of Impact Academy fellows by the national nonprofit Deans for Impact.

This year's Impact Academy fellowship combines monthly virtual sessions with regular learning modules and ongoing leadership coaching.

"It's nice to have that network with people in your cohort to see how people are handling situations," Hardee said. "You also have experienced mentors you can learn from."

The 17 members of this year's cohort were chosen from applicants for their commitment to improving educator preparation in the midst of inequities revealed and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Deans for Impact looks to address these issues through its yearlong Impact Academy fellowship, which empowers dean-level leaders with skills, knowledge and strategies to pursue instructional excellence in the face of new challenges.

"We believe that transformative leadership is the cornerstone of an educator-preparation program that embraces an improvement mentality and prioritizes candidate learning above all else," said Benjamin Riley, founder and executive director of Deans for Impact.

Founded in 2015, Deans for Impact is dedicated to ensuring every child is taught by a well-prepared teacher.