Dr. Lynn M. Gangone to Take Helm of AACTE as Next President and CEO

(April 27, 2017, Washington, D.C.) – The Board of Directors of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) is proud to announce the selection of Dr. Lynn M. Gangone as AACTE’s next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1. Gangone, who currently serves as vice president of the leadership division of the American Council on Education, will succeed Dr. Sharon P. Robinson, who is retiring after 12 years as President and CEO.

“After an extensive search process, the board is pleased to have found the best individual to assume leadership of the premier organization for educator preparation,” said Dr. Renée A. Middleton, chair of the AACTE Board of Directors and Dean of The Gladys W. & David H. Patton College of Education at Ohio University. “Dr. Gangone is well equipped to communicate and support the Association’s mission to champion preparation that ensures the effectiveness, diversity and readiness of professional educators to serve all students.”

The selection of Gangone caps a comprehensive recruitment process facilitated by Russell Reynolds Associates, which specializes in recruiting senior executives to drive long-term growth and success for public and private organizations. A large initial prospect pool was narrowed by stages to a final round of candidates who met with the AACTE Executive Search Committee, Board of Directors, Robinson and staff.

“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead this exceptional organization of dedicated educator preparation professionals,” said Gangone. “AACTE member programs produce the majority of the country’s teaching workforce, whose responsibility for developing students into lifelong learners and engaged citizens is essential to the fabric of our democratic society. This is a terrific opportunity that I welcome with great solemnity in respect to the significant impact we have on shaping the future of America.”

Gangone is an accomplished manager and leader with successful experience working with boards of directors, managing staff functions and developing a robust organizational culture. She has a record of strengthening organizations’ structure, systems and business practices, and has demonstrated an ability to hold all activities and programs to the highest standards of ethics, governance and transparency. She is known for establishing a business culture focused on results and accountability, so that organizational objectives and defined goals are achieved and celebrated.

Gangone received an Ed.D. and M.Ed. in higher and postsecondary administration, with a concentration in organizations and leadership, from Teachers College, Columbia University; an M.S. and C.A.S. in counseling psychology from the University at Albany, State University of New York; and a B.A. in political science from the College of New Rochelle. She was a member of the class of 2010 Harvard Institute for Educational Management and is certified through Trustee Leadership Development. She is also a member of the Colorado and Washington, D.C., chapters of the International Women’s Forum (IWF) and served as Colorado’s 2013 president; she has served the IWF Leadership Foundation as a fellows mentor. Her many honors include Twenty-Five Most Powerful Women in Colorado, Women of Distinction—Girl Scouts of Colorado, Women Making History—Colorado Black Women for Political Action, Diamond Honoree—American College Personnel Association, and the Ursula Laurus Alumnae Award from the College of New Rochelle. Gangone serves on the national board of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. She consults, writes and speaks on higher education leadership, advancement of underrepresented men and women, strategic planning and change management.

Robinson, who will collaborate with Gangone in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition, expressed confidence in the board’s choice. “Dr. Gangone is a remarkable leader who has been responsible for leading advancements in education throughout her career,” Robinson said. “I’m confident Dr. Gangone will ensure that AACTE continues to advocate and build capacity for the high-quality preparation of educators to meet the needs of every learner through innovative practice, rigorous standards and continuous improvement.”

Building on the successes AACTE has achieved under Robinson’s leadership, Gangone will work to increase the visibility of teacher preparation programs and the relevance of the Association across a range of stakeholders, including business and nonprofit leadership, government and the public in partnership with its member institutions.

For media inquiries, contact Jerrica Thurman, AACTE’s Director of Marketing and Communications, at 202-478-4502 or jthurman@aacte.org

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About AACTE: The Leading Voice on Educator Preparation
The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education is a national alliance of educator preparation programs dedicated to high-quality, evidence-based preparation that assures educators are profession-ready as they enter the classroom. The over 800 member institutions include public and private colleges and universities in every state, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Through advocacy and capacity building, AACTE promotes innovation and effective practices that strengthen educator preparation. Learn more at www.aacte.org.