Landry named dean of NSU College of Education

Northeastern State University has announced Dr. Deborah Landry as its dean of the College of Education.

Landry was named dean on May 16. She has served as the college's interim dean since January 2012 after the retirement of Dr. Kay Grant. She will continue to serve as interim dean until formally assuming the new title on July 1.

"I am extremely excited about everything Dr. Landry brings as dean of the College of Education," said NSU President Steve Turner. "The search committee, Provost Martin Tadlock and I believe she possesses the ability, disposition and motivation to move the college forward during these times when there are national and state debates about the missions of colleges of education."

Landry said she was "honored and humbled to be part of the future of NSU."

"I want to thank the search committee and President Turner for their support and confidence," she said. "The faculty and staff of the College of Education are incredible the hardest working people I know. The potential is unlimited."

Landry has been a member of the NSU faculty since 2004, when she was named an associate professor of elementary education. She served as chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction from June 2006 until her selection as interim dean in January.

Before joining the NSU faculty, she was a second-grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School in Owasso. From 1997-2001, she was a kindergarten teacher at Owasso's Hodson Elementary School. She holds Oklahoma teaching certifications as superintendent and elementary principal and in elementary education, middle school science, middle school language arts, middle school social studies, early childhood education and business education.

Landry is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, in which she served from 1977-97 and received a commission in 1982. She is a member of the American Association for Teaching and Curriculum, Delta Gamma Honor Society, Delta Kappa Gamma women educators society and the Kappa Delta Pi education honor society. She is also a teacher scholar for the Oklahoma State University Writing Project.

Landry earned her associate's degree in business administration from Shelby State Community College in Memphis, Tenn in 1981. She was awarded a bachelor's degree in liberal science in 1987 from Regent's College in Albany, N.Y. She holds master's degrees from Troy State University in Troy, Ala., in educational leadership and Marymount University in Arlington, Va., in education, received in 1991 and 1997 respectively. She earned her doctorate of education in curriculum and instruction from Oklahoma State University in 2005.