Francisco Rios to transition from dean to professor at Woodring

Francisco Rios, dean of Woodring College of Education at Western Washington University, said he will transition from dean to serving as a faculty member in the college’s Secondary Education Department.

Rios, who has been Woodring College dean since 2011, will continue to serve as dean through the 2016-2017 academic year. In the interim a national search will be conducted for his successor.

“After much thought and consideration, I have decided to spend the last stage of my career as a professor in the College, working with students via teaching and advising, engaged scholarship, and community service,” Rios said. “It has been a true honor and privilege to serve the students, faculty, staff, and the university, as dean of Woodring College of Education.”

Rios has led Woodring College as it has continued its ascent as one of the finest colleges of education in the nation.

“After his six years as dean, Dr. Francisco Ríos will look back on a long list of important and successful initiatives and programs that he created, supported, helped to start, or implemented.  Whether in the realm of fundraising, faculty development, academic programming and curriculum, or strategic planning, Dr. Ríos has brought innovation and creativity to the work of the Woodring College of Education,” said Western Provost Brent Carbajal.

“If I had to use just one word to describe Dr. Ríos’ term as dean, it would be ‘impactful.’ With dedication and commitment to social justice, to diversity, to access, and to the importance of the profession of teaching, his work impacts education in the state and nation in impressive and meaningful ways.  Simply put, he has made a difference,” Carbajal said.

Before he came to Western, Rios was professor and chair of the Educational Studies Department in the College of Education and founding director of the Social Justice Research Center at the University of Wyoming.

Rios received his master’s and doctorate degrees in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He has 30-plus years’ experience as a teacher, teacher-educator and administrator. He has worked with students of every grade level; with adults in a technical school as well as teacher education programs in California and Wyoming. He also has worked in two international education settings: the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and as a Fulbright Scholar at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso in Chile. He is the author or co-author of seven books and numerous scholarly publications.

Previously, he was an associate professor in the College of Education at California State University– San Marcos (CSUSM). He also served as interim associate dean of the CSUSM College of Education. He has worked in faculty positions at several other colleges and has won numerous awards and recognitions for his work in higher education.

The dean of Woodring College is responsible for providing academic and administrative leadership to an engaged community of faculty and staff members in four academic departments, three off-campus program sites and four related centers. The dean reports directly to the provost and serves on the university’s Council of Deans.

Western Washington University’s Woodring College of Education is recognized throughout Washington, and beyond, as a leader in the development and implementation of programs that prepare outstanding early childhood through adult educators and educational administrators; human services and nursing professionals; and rehabilitation counselors. For more information please see Woodring College.