Incoming Graduate School Dean

New hire hopes to connect school and community

Erin FoxTHE SANTA CLARAFebruary 25, 2016

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]anta Clara’s School of Education and Counseling Psychology will soon be under new leadership.

On Jun. 1, Sabrina Zirkel, Ph.D. will begin her term as the school’s new dean.

Zirkel is excited to join the Santa Clara community because of its commitment to social justice.

“(Santa Clara’s) social justice values were very important to me and really aligned with my values,” Zirkel said. “The commitment to faculty and preparing teachers, counselors and leaders who really want to make a difference in their community.”

Zirkel’s leadership engagement will expand well beyond the university’s main campus in Santa Clara. She hopes to improve relationships between the university and various community partners. In particular, Zirkel wants to improve the work done at the East San Jose Campus and the Thriving Neighbors initiative.

Zirkel also hopes to expand bilingual leadership programs and the school’s global focus.

Zirkel’s most recent position was at Mills College where she served as a professor of Educational Leadership since 2006 and associate dean of Education as well as director of the Educational Leadership program. Previously, she taught psychology at Saybrook University and at the College of the Holy Cross.

“Dr. Zirkel comes to Santa Clara with an impressive record in curricular innovation, faculty development, and student engagement,” Michael Engh, S.J., university president, said in a press release. “Dr. Zirkel’s experiences coupled with her passion for promoting educational equity will be a significant benefit to the school and the community.”

Zirkel seemed like an obvious choice for the job, according to Ed Ryan, chair of the search committee commissioned by Dennis Jacobs, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

“The school was looking for a leader that was committed to faculty, academic program development and strong relationships to community in the San Jose area,” Ryan said. “Dr. Zirkel has a lot of expertise in all those areas.”

Contact Erin Fox at efox@scu.edu.