Karen Symms Gallagher
Karen Symms Gallagher is the Emery Stoops and Joyce King Stoops Dean of the Rossier School of Education at University of Southern California (USC). Under her leadership, the school has pioneered the practitioner-focused education doctorate that serves as a national model; and has launched its groundbreaking online Master of Arts in Teaching degree. She was honored with USC’s inaugural Provost’s Prize for Innovation in Educational Practice. Gallagher is chair of the board of directors of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation; was previously the dean of education at the University of Kansas; and directed the Commission on Educational Improvement for Ohio. She has a long career of proactively collaborating on teacher preparation improvement, joining with other education leaders to form Deans for Impact, an organization that aims to improve educator preparation through data-driven initiatives. Gallagher received her PhD in educational leadership and administration from Purdue University.
updated 2020