Dr. Tarrell Portman, Dean of the College of Education

Winona State University announces the appointment of Tarrell Awe Agahe Portman (Ter’-rell awe-E’ ah-ga-hE’ Port’-man) to the position of Dean of the College of Education.

Portman most recently served as the Administrator/Coordinator for the Graduate Certificate in Multicultural Education and Culturally Competent Practice (2011-2014) and as Associate Professor in the College of Education at the University of Iowa (2005-2014). Prior to these appointments, Portman served as the Assistant Dean and Director of the Office of Graduate Inclusion (2008-2013) at the University of Iowa and held the rank of Assistant Professor from 1999-2005. In addition, Portman is the Owner/Therapist of Riverside Counseling Services, PLLC (2012-present); and served as President of Seven Feathers, Inc. (2005-2007); National Holmes Scholar (1997-1999); National Indian Fellow for the Department of Education in Washington, D.C. (1995-1997); Comprehensive School Counselor-Secondary for Neosho R-V Schools in Missouri (1992-1995); Mental Health Counselor for Heartland Hospital (1992-1994); and Comprehensive School Counselor and school teacher for various schools in Missouri (1981-1992).

Patricia L. Rogers, provost and vice president for academic affairs at WSU, said she is excited for Portman to join the university community.

“Dr. Portman is a visionary, dedicated and compassionate individual who will make critical connections in the communities we serve and those we hope to serve in the near future,” said Rogers. “She brings a deep understanding of teacher education, mental health counseling, multicultural education and educational leadership that will take us to the high level of excellence our faculty have in mind for ‘The (New) Winona Model’ of educating the next generations of teachers.”

Portman received her B.S.Ed. (Education, Art [K-12], Elem. [K-8]) and MA.Ed. (Guidance & Counseling [K-12]) from Southeast Missouri State University and her Ph.D. (Counselor Education and Supervision) from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Portman states, “I am thrilled to be joining the College of Education at Winona State University. The insight, passion and innovation of the faculty, staff and community partners attracted me to this position. I look forward to becoming a part of an academic community transforming education.”

Portman will assume the position of dean July 1.

For more information, call the WSU Communications Office at 507-457-5024.
About the Winona State University College of Education
As the first teacher preparation school west of the Mississippi River and the first home of the National Education Association, the Winona State University College of Education has a long and storied history of innovation and leadership. The college enrollment, including all teacher education programs university-wide, is approximately 1,262 undergraduate students and 270 graduate students, supported by 40 full-time professors. With campuses in both Winona and Rochester, the College of Education is divided into seven departments and three centers, ranging from Early Childhood & Elementary Education to Counselor Education and Education Leadership. The college offers 22 Undergraduate Teacher Licensure programs, one Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure program, 12 master’s programs, and three additional licensure and certificate programs. Initial licensure and advanced programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Minnesota Board of Teaching (BOT) and meet all standards accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) and are recognized for state licensure in both school and community counseling. Educational Leadership is accredited by the Minnesota Board of School Administrators (BOSA). The WSU Children’s Center is accredited by the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

As the educational needs of communities throughout Minnesota continue to change, the College of Education will continue to respond. The Teach21 initiative, launched in 2009 and funded through a $4 million grant from the Bush Foundation, aims to transform WSU’s teacher preparation programs through a combined approach of targeted recruitment, effective training, specialized placement, and ongoing support. WSU’s Education Village initiative, which received initial funding during the 2013-14 Minnesota legislative session, is a bold, responsive plan to renovate existing campus facilities to offer integrated, flexible, state-of-the-art learning and teaching spaces, and provide future teachers with the preparation, support and inspiration they need to be successful in the 21st century classroom.

To learn more about the WSU College of Education visit: http://www.winona.edu/education/.