Eastern Michigan University’s College of Education held a reception for its new dean, Micheal Sayler, Wednesday in Porter.
Sayler said Eastern Michigan University is a wonderful place.
“I started Monday, and it feels like home already,” Sayler said. “The faculty is wonderful. I met some of the students. I met some of the people from the public schools, we met some kids. There’s just lots of really good things happening. This college has such a long history of education and lots of great opportunities here in Michigan and the surrounding area.”
He said he is not planning on making any changes in the COE right away.
“I’m just listening right now,” Sayler said. “I’m taking time to get to know everybody and listen. I think a dean is kind of foolish to come in and try to make a bunch of changes.”
Ann Thompson, executive director of alumni relations, said this is an opportunity to build off the changes the previous dean, Jann Joseph, made.
“A new [dean] can just take those changes and improve it further and to the next level,” Thompson said.
Christine Lancaster, director of student support in the COE, said Sayler brings a “wealth of experience.”
“I think that he has skills in collaboration, working well with others, and I think he’s got a lot to add to the college,” Lancaster said.
Sayler was announced as the new dean on Feb. 19 after a national search. Four finalists were brought to campus and Sayler was chosen after interviews and a public forum. The search committee was chaired by College of Health and Human Services Dean Murali Nair.
“We are very pleased that Dr. Sayler will be joining Eastern Michigan University,” Provost Schatzel said in a statement. “He brings an outstanding background in preparing future leaders in the education and human services fields. He also has a genuine warmth for Eastern and an understanding of the important role that the Eastern Michigan University College of Education has played since the University was founded as a school for educators in 1849.”
Sayler worked at the University of North Texas as the associate dean from 2002-11 and the senior associate dean since 2011.
