COE Dean Leif Gustavson to Step Down

College of Education Dean Leif Gustavson will be leaving Pacific University on June 30, 2023, to pursue a new position as Head of School at The Marylhurst School, an independent, progressive school serving children from early childhood through the eighth grade in Oregon City.

“I have greatly valued Leif’s creativity and optimistic attitude on the Provost’s Council. This new opportunity has been a long-term goal of his, and The Marylhurst School is very fortunate to have him join their community,” said Provost Ann Barr-Gillespie. “All of us on the Provost’s Council wish Leif every success in his new role as Head of School.”

Plans for a leadership transition for the college are underway, and more information will be shared in the coming weeks.

Leif has served as dean of the College of Education since 2014, when he joined Pacific from Arcadia University in Pennsylvania. During his tenure as dean, Leif has worked with college staff and faculty to design programs that are accessible and inclusive, resulting in a number of innovative programmatic offerings. Two examples are Pacific’s third PhD program, the PhD in Education and Leadership, which is a collaboration with the College of Health Professions, and the Residency Teacher Licensure program, which was the first of its kind in the state. Leif furthered a partnership between Pacific and Lane Community College and supported the expansion of the Early Learning Community, which now enrolls students in preK through fourth grade. Recently, Leif oversaw the successful national accreditation of the School of Learning and Teaching through the Association for Advancing Quality in Teacher Education. Leif also represented Pacific at the state and national level, serving as president for the Oregon Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and as western regional representative for the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

“It has been a tremendous privilege working with the staff, faculty, and students in the COE,” Leif said. “I am so thankful for their collaboration, kindness, dedication, creativity, and expertise. They are inspirational, and I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together.”