Story: Lisa Sollie
Dr. Cheryl Lambert, dean of the Julia S. Tutwiler College of Education at the University of West Alabama, has been named an Impact Academy fellow through national non-profit organization Deans for Impact (DFI). Lambert joins a cohort of leaders chosen for their commitment to strengthening educator preparation and ensuring future teachers are prepared to meet the needs of all students.
Lambert is one of 24 leaders announced as part of the Fellowship’s 11th cohort. This year’s fellows represent a wide range of contexts and communities in which future teachers are prepared, including public and private universities, community colleges, national programs, school districts, and innovative teacher-preparation pathways. Together, they share a commitment to strengthening systems of education so that more students are taught by well-prepared teachers.
鈥淒r. Lambert鈥檚 selection for the Impact Academy reflects her strong leadership and commitment to preparing highly effective educators,” said UWA Provost, Dr. Amy Jones. 鈥淭his fellowship will provide valuable opportunities to collaborate with national leaders while advancing the important work of the College of Education at UWA.鈥�
As a fellow, Lambert will participate in in-person and virtual monthly cohort-based learning, receive one on one coaching from veteran leaders, and engage in peer consultancies focused on the field’s most pressing challenges. Over the course of the year, fellows will workshop solutions to adaptive challenges: complex problems leaders face when change depends not only on technical or structural fixes, but on shifting mindsets, relationships, and ways of working.
鈥淚 am honored to be selected as a Dean for Impact Fellow and grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside leaders who are committed to strengthening educator preparation and improving outcomes for students,鈥� Lambert said.
Educator-preparation leaders today are navigating a rapidly evolving landscape, and more than ever, the field needs leaders who can guide change with clarity, courage, and care while keeping student learning at the center.
DFI aims to support this need through its , which has developed a national network of nearly 200 education deans and executive-level leaders who are today working within and beyond educator preparation to strengthen teaching and learning. The fellowship supports leaders to prioritize evidence-based instruction, navigate their teams through continuous change, deepen partnerships with schools and communities, and build accessible, high-quality pathways into teaching.
鈥淓ducator-preparation leaders are being asked to make important decisions in a moment of rapid change,鈥� said Valerie Sakimura, CEO of DFI. 鈥淭his cohort of leaders stands out for their willingness to engage in complexity with deep care for students, their learning, and their futures. We鈥檙e excited to support these leaders as they meet the moment and help ensure every student is taught by well-prepared teachers.鈥�