Robin Hojnoski Installed as Dean of the College of Education

The Lehigh community gathered to recognize Robin Hojnoski as she was officially sworn in as Dean of the College of Education (COE) during a ceremony in the Stabler Observation Tower in Iacocca Hall on Sept. 17.

Hojnoski was appointed on July 1, following a two-year term as Acting Dean during which she oversaw the development and deployment of the College’s fully online degrees and certificates. She also led the development of the interdisciplinary policy certificate and expansion of undergraduate programming.

While she was formally introduced by President Joseph J. Helble ’82 and Provost Nathan Urban during the ceremony, Hojnoski’s 21-year tenure in the School Psychology program made her a warm and familiar presence. Her dedication to teaching began early in her career, when she was awarded the prestigious Frank Hook Assistant Professorship given to junior faculty members who demonstrate extraordinary skill in teaching while fostering personal interactions and mentoring relationships with students.

Against the backdrop of Family and Founders Weekend, the Lehigh medallion and curved walking stick that represents Asa Packer’s cane were passed to Hojnoski, carrying salient symbolism for the leaders who take Lehigh’s mission forward one step at a time.

President Helble shared with the audience how Hojnoski’s grounded optimism and attentive ear have exemplified her as the leader who will continue to shape the COE from its founding in 1966.

“Those of you who know {Robin} know that she is inquisitive, thoughtful, articulate and humble. I often say that the greatest communication skill a leader can demonstrate is that of being a true, deep and careful listener to her colleagues around her, and that is Robin to her core,” Helble said in his opening remarks.

Provost Nathan Urban followed at the podium, and told the crowd that under Hojnoski’s direction over the past couple of years, the college has significantly strengthened its connection between research and practice.

“She’s done this during a time when the changing landscape for federal funding, and in particular, research funding for colleges of education has been moving more quickly than ever before in any other discipline. She’s met these rapid changes with the recognition that change is needed, and a keen sense of the core work of the college that must be preserved,” he added.

Hojnoski thanked the board of trustees, university leadership, former and current faculty and staff and her family, for their unending support of her academic career.

“It is wonderful to look out into this room because I recognize that each of you has played a role in my journey,” she said. “I have literally grown up here as an academic. I came with an infant, so my daughter has also grown up here.”

Throughout her graduate studies, Hojnoski said Lehigh’s College of Education was frequently positioned as the gold standard, the aspirational model of excellence in high impact research and an unparalleled dedication to transformational graduate studies.

“I often questioned why I was sitting in a class at UMass Amherst, and not in a classroom at Lehigh University,” she added. “Nonetheless, I made it here eventually and I remember well my siphon in having the opportunity to join such a remarkable program, college and institution as a faculty member.”

Closing out the event, Hojnoski left the audience with her steadfast commitment to the college in its next chapter of leadership.

“The work we do is more important now than ever,” she said, “and I want to thank you for joining in this journey as the COE enters its next phase, fulfilling our responsibility as leaders in education and ensuring a better tomorrow.”