Bosher to step down as dean of VCU’s School of Education

By Pamela DiSalvo Lepley

William C. Bosher, Jr., announced that he will step down as dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education and return to a part-time faculty position, effective July 1.

He will remain at VCU with a joint appointment in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs and the School of Education as distinguished professor of public policy and education and executive director of the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute.

“I’m proud of the growth the VCU School of Education has seen over the past three years in enrollment, research funding and national visibility,” Bosher said. “Now I look forward to continuing to serve VCU and its students while focusing on public policy.”

Bosher was appointed dean in July 2002. Under his leadership, the school’s research budget has grown to $40 million and doctoral programs have expanded. Bosher also is credited with entrepreneurial initiatives in developing off-campus programs to support local school systems. 

“Dr. Bosher brought a unique blend of state and local experience to the job of dean, making significant strides in accomplishing his goal to build bridges between higher education, state policy and the classroom,” said VCU President Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D.

Bosher’s past positions include superintendent of public instruction for the Virginia State Department of Education and superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools and Henrico County Public Schools.

“Dr. Bosher put his stamp on our school of education over the past three years and will continue to do so as chair of the committee that will conduct a national search for his replacement as dean,” said Stephen D. Gottfredson, Ph.D., VCU provost and vice president for academic affairs.  

Gottfredson said that Beverly J. Warren, Ph.D., associate dean for faculty affairs in the School of Education, will serve as interim dean. She joined VCU in 2000 as professor and chair of the division of health, physical education and recreation. 

Previously Warren served as professor and chair at Lander University, Greenwood, S.C., and as associate professor and director of graduate programs at Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C. She also served on the faculty at Auburn University; Smith College, Northampton, Mass.; and the University of Montevallo in Alabama.

Warren is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and serves on the organization’s board of trustees. She holds a doctorate in exercise physiology from Auburn University and an Ed.D. in administration of higher education from the University of Alabama.

The VCU School of Education enrolls 1,500 students in undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs.