CEPS Announces New Department Chairs
We are excited to announce three new department chairs in the College of Education and Professional Studies:
Chair of Education, Development, Teaching and Learning: Dr. Teri Walker
Term effective June 16, 2023-June 15, 2027
Dr. Teri Walker is a professor in the department of Education, Development, Teaching and Learning (EDTL). During her time at CWU, she has served in a number of roles including on the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, Curriculum Committee, and General Education Committee. She has also spent time as a Provost Fellow for Academic-Service learning, and as a university assessment liaison. Her background with Head Start and Washington State’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) helped build Teri’s foundation of whole child/family learning, and instilled a drive for program assessment to afford informed decision making toward continuous program improvement. “The EDTL Department is the academic home for exceptional colleagues. The opportunity to serve as department chair allows me to focus on dynamic stability as we continue to grow together and share our academic journeys.”
Acting Chair of Information Technology & Administrative Management: Dr. Kurt Kirstein
Term effective March 16, 2023-March 15, 2025
Dr. Kirstein came to CWU in 2014 as a part-time lecturer in Information Technology and Administrative Management (ITAM). In 2022 he took on the role of Associate Dean and will now also serve as the acting Chair for ITAM. “The ITAM department will look at pursuing a more technology-focused approach and will specialize in educating students for the multitude of IT jobs in nearly every field. Everyone needs IT professionals and ITAM will continue to focus on ensuring that our graduates are job-ready.”
A native of Washington state, Dr. Kirstein was raised in Spokane and attended college at the Evergreen State College in Olympia where he earned his BS in Computer Science. Dr. Kirstein spent 20 years in the field of high-tech, first in telecom and later in biotech. During this time, he completed his graduate degrees; an MA in Adult Education and Training from Seattle University and an EdD in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. In 2007 Dr. Kirstein transitioned to higher education by joining City University of Seattle (CityU) as a Program Coordinator. He would go on to serve as a Dean and eventually was appointed as the Provost for CityU. While professionally located in Ellensburg, Dr. Kirstein makes his permanent home in Monroe, WA where he lives with his husband and their pet family.
Chair of Sport and Movement Studies: Dr. Brian McGladrey
Term effective June 16, 2023-June 15, 2027
Dr. Brian McGladrey teaches graduate courses in the Sport and Athletic Administration program, and undergraduate courses in both the Sport Management and Sport Coaching programs. He also serves as the program coordinator for the Sport Coaching minor. Dr. McGladrey’s professional background includes 14 years as a high school baseball coach, and nearly 20 years in the health and fitness industry. He is an NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, and in the role of strength and conditioning coach has trained both high school and collegiate athletes. His research interests include teacher/coach knowledge specific to resistance training, and pedagogy specific to the high school weight room. “As Department Chair, after surviving the better part of two years' worth of dust and displacement, I look forward to our department moving into renovated classrooms and lab/activity spaces in Purser/Nicholson. In addition to supporting faculties in their professional goals and endeavors, my goal is to grow our existing programs, while exploring options for new programs that will be of interest and benefit to CWU's students.”