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Greenville Business Magazine

USC Upstate Names New Dean

Jan 09, 2018 02:01PM ● By Kathleen Maris

The University of South Carolina Upstate has selected a new dean for its School of Education. Laura Reynolds, Ph.D. will begin her duties on January 22.

“We are most excited to have Dr. Reynolds join our academic leadership team as she brings expertise in accreditation and assessment, and she was responsible for the preparation, evidence collection, and re-accreditation of the University of Michigan – Dearborn campus by the Higher Learning Commission,” said Dr. Clif Flynn, provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs. “USC Upstate serves as a critical force in fulfilling regional and state workforce needs and serves as a major engine of social and economic development. Our School of Education plays an extremely vital role in that it prepares graduates to excel as reflective, effective leaders in classrooms and schools as well as more broadly in our increasingly complex global society.”

At UM-Dearborn, Reynolds was an associate professor of educational psychology and had served as the associate dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Services from 2014 to 2017. Previously, she served for more than two years in academic affairs and the Office of the Provost as chief assessment officer and accreditation lead for campus-wide assessment and planning.

As an academic and researcher, Reynolds has been involved in classroom and clinical assessment and instruction, focused on inter-rater training, validity, and reliability. Additionally, Reynolds does significant research in the field of play and human development, focusing on outdoor play. She partners with non-profit organizations in India and in Vietnam to create and evaluate urban and rural playgrounds targeting improved child outcomes and community health.