Farewell to Dean McGivney-Burrell

It is with mixed emotions that we announce the departure of beloved Dean of the College of Education, Dr. Jean McGivney-Burelle. Following four years of dedicated service to Idaho State University, McGivney-Burelle will be moving back east this summer where she has accepted a provost position at another university. 

McGivney-Burelle was appointed Dean of the Idaho State University College of Education in the summer of 2020, bringing with her over two decades of experience in higher education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Hartford, a Master of Science in Mathematics from Northeastern University, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Connecticut. Prior to arriving at ISU, McGivney-Burelle served as the founding executive director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and Innovation at the University of Hartford, where, in addition to her faculty position in the mathematics department, she also held several leadership roles including director of secondary mathematics education; chair of the Department of Education in the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions; and associate dean of budget and finance in the College of Arts and Sciences. 

Throughout her tenure at ISU, McGivney-Burelle’s transformational leadership made a significant impact on students, faculty, staff, programs, facilities, and culture. Under her guidance, the College saw a 6% enrollment increase from Fall 2021 to Fall 2023, secured a record breaking $3 million in external grants awarded to faculty in FY23, and developed a comprehensive five-year Strategic Plan that will be implemented in Fall 2024. Furthermore, her stewardship helped to raise $2.3 million in gifts or commitments in FY24, which made it the most successful year for fundraising in the College’s history. In Spring 2024, in acknowledgment of its generous donors, the College established a state-of-the-art donor wall–a first of its kind on the Idaho State campus. McGivney-Burelle also oversaw the successful reaccreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) in Spring 2023, and pioneered several new programs and certificates to meet market demand, including the relaunch of the Ph.D. in Instructional Design in Fall 2024. In addition, she launched the College’s bi-annual Bengal Education Review Magazine and the monthly Inspiring Educators radio show (co-hosted with Tabatha Butler) as vehicles for sharing the College’s stories and successes with alumni, partners, and friends of the College. 

During McGivney-Burelle's tenure there was a significant expansion of the ISU Albion Center for Professional Development, establishing it as a national leader in professional development for P-12 teachers. As of May 2024, over 60,000 educators across the United States and over 80% of Idaho educators have chosen The Albion Center for their continued learning, solidifying its reputation as a premier provider of affordable, flexible, and relevant educational opportunities for teachers to continue to learn and grow in their profession. In four years, The Albion Center revenue grew from $400k annually to between $8-12m a year–and this revenue has been used to support the College and the University. 

In 2022, under McGivney-Burelle’s leadership the College launched the Paraprofessional to Certified Teacher (PaCT) program to address the ongoing teacher shortage. PaCT is a fully online program that provides working paraprofessionals the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree and teacher certification in elementary, special education, or English as a second language. Using revenue generated from The Albion Center and working in partnership with more than 10 school districts, the College covers the cost of tuition and fees for eligible paraprofessionals to become certified elementary or special education teachers. As of Fall 2024 there will be upwards of 75 students enrolled in the PaCT program.

As Dean, McGivney-Burelle invested more than $2m to fund student scholarships, faculty research, teaching innovations, facilities upgrades, staff professional development, and student experiential learning activities. Notable initiatives include supporting the International ROARing Experience Teaching Practicum in the Dominican Republic and the Teaching in Rural Areas Immersion Learning (TRAIL) Experience; hosting the annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Education Conference; sending sport management and athletic administration students to work at the College Football Award Ceremonies in Las Vegas; and funding instructional design and technology graduate students to attend, volunteer for, and present at the Association for Educational Communications and Technology Conference (AECT). Finally, a number of improvements were made to college-managed spaces including the Exercise Science, Human Performance, and Biomechanics Labs, the Center for Sport Studies, the student lounge, and shared spaces, to name a few. 

Finally, under McGivney-Burelle’s leadership the College was an eager partner with other units on campus, including the Office of Equity and Inclusion and the Program for Institutional Effectiveness, and to community organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Idaho. 

McGivney-Burelle leaves behind a legacy marked by innovation, inclusivity, kindness, and servant leadership. Her last day as Dean of the College of Education will be on June 30th. All are invited to a Farewell Reception in her honor which will be held on Friday, May 31 between 4 - 6 p.m. in the College of Education lobby.