School of Education hires new head

Christopher Morphew, the current executive associate dean for research and innovation at the University of Iowa College of Education, was recently appointed dean of the School of Education at Hopkins.

Morphew comes from a family of educators and earned a Master’s of Education degree from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. He holds a Ph.D. in social sciences and education from Stanford University.

His work at Iowa concerned institutional diversity and state higher education policy. Morphew expanded several graduate programs at Iowa, taking steps toward an interdisciplinary approach to human development. These programs at Iowa saw increased enrollment under Morphew.

At the recommendation of University President Ronald J. Daniels and Provost Sunil Kumar, Morphew will bring his experience to the School of Education in August.

“Dr. Morphew has the vision, focus and proven skills to lead the school’s talented faculty and staff in seizing new opportunities and tackling the complex challenges facing pre-K to 12 education across this country and here in Baltimore,” Daniels said in a press release. “He is the right person to guide the continued growth and upward trajectory of our School of Education.”

Morphew is professionally recognized for his research in higher education and has received many national grants.

He hopes to continue his research at the School of Education while working to define the University’s role in leading education policymaking.

“Just as Johns Hopkins changed medical education and medical research in the late 19th century, I’d like the School of Education to be the place where policymakers, foundations and school leaders expect to find the most relevant and useful research that can shape the field in the coming decades,” Morphew said in a press release.

Although Hopkins has offered teacher education for over a century, the School of Education has only operated as an independent division of the University for the last decade. Morphew will lead the relatively young school of about 130 faculty members and 2,400 students.

He touched on the importance of education schools and what he hopes to do at the Hopkins School of Education.

“Schools of education should aspire to be the places where relevant, interdisciplinary, cutting-edge research on schools and learning take place,” Morphew said. “A chance to help its faculty, staff and students carve out a unique identity is an extraordinary opportunity.”