June 09, 2021
Dr. Yune Kim Tran named dean of School of Professional Studies
Dr. Yune Kim Tran has been named the new dean of the Providence College School of Professional Studies. Tran, who will begin her duties in late August, also will hold the academic rank of professor of elementary/special education with tenure.
The appointment was announced Tuesday, June 8, by Dr. Sean Reid, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.
Tran will provide leadership to undergraduate programs in secondary and elementary/special education, health policy and management, and social work, as well as several graduate programs. Additionally, she will lead strategic planning efforts, oversee specialized accreditation processes, and provide support to the faculty and students.
“I am excited for the opportunity to join the SPS, where a dedicated team of faculty and staff are committed to the academic excellence of professional programs with enriching field experiences that challenge students to think critically and serve a life of purpose in their careers and in their local or global communities,” Tran said.
“Most important is being part of the PC family, where equity, diversity, and perspectives are embraced and valued. These intersections lead to the more thoughtful use of our talents and gifts for relevant praxis and meaningful work in my daily life.”
Since 2018, Tran has been the associate dean of academic affairs at Montclair State University. She has led accreditation processes, curricular review, new program identification, and many other initiatives focused on faculty hiring, development, and advocacy.
Prior to Montclair State, Tran was a tenured associate professor of teacher education at George Fox University, where she also served in several administrative roles, such as chair and director of the school’s undergraduate teacher education program, coordinator of the international student-teaching abroad program, and director of the faculty of color mentoring program. From 1998-2011, she was a K-12 teacher and administrator at school districts in Florida, California, and Texas.
Tran earned a doctorate and bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree from Texas State University.
Her scholarly areas of interest include equity and access, teacher self-efficacy, teacher identity, and teacher education assessment. She has an extensive record of publications, which include co-authorship of the Handbook of Research on Equity in Computer Science in P-16 Education (2021), two book chapters, nine academic journal articles, and more than 15 conference proceedings.
She also is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences and workshops and has a lengthy record of service to the departments and institutions where she has been employed, as well as the communities in which she’s lived.
The previous dean of the School of Professional Studies was Dr. Jennifer E. Swanberg, a professor of health policy and management who left the position in May 2020.
“I want to thank everyone who was involved in this search process, especially Dr. Sheila Adamus Liotta, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences,” Reid said. “Lastly, I want to express my gratitude to Dr. Katie Kranz, who has served as interim dean of the SPS for more than a year. Katie’s work as interim dean and associate dean has raised the profile of the SPS and its faculty and students. I am grateful for her efforts.”
The School of Professional Studies is one of four schools at the College, all of which are led by women. In addition to the School of Arts and Sciences, they are the School of Business, led by Dean Dr. Sylvia Maxfield, and the School of Continuing Education, led by Dean Carmen Aguilar.
