College of Education and Health Professions Celebrates Endowed Chair in Education Policy

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — With the ceremonial presentation of a cast medallion, the UA College of Education and Health Professions will celebrate the appointment of Gary W. Ritter to be the first holder of the Chair in Education Policy. The celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, in the foyer of the Graduate Education Auditorium. Ritter, an associate professor in the department of education reform, serves as director of the Office for Education Policy and associate director of the University of Arkansas interdisciplinary doctoral program in public policy.

UA Chancellor John A. White said, "The department of education reform is an outstanding addition to the university. The endowed chair lends a sense of permanency to Dr. Ritter’s already considerable contributions to the public education system through the Office for Education Policy. I am delighted he will be playing a key role in education reform and education policy — roles that are vital to the future of the state of Arkansas."

Ritter founded the Office of Education Policy in 2003 as a resource for Arkansas policymakers and educators to aid in making informed decisions concerning K-12 education in the state. The office publishes timely working papers, policy briefs, fact sheets and regular newsletters and responds to research requests from those interested in K-12 education policy in the state.

Reed Greenwood, dean of the college, said, "In his short time at the university, Dr. Ritter has earned the respect of both legislators and educators statewide. They have come to rely on his clear, accessible presentation of the issues facing our schools and examination of useful research. We in the college are proud of the leadership he has contributed to Arkansas."

Ritter earned a doctorate in education policy in 2000 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he coordinated research evaluating a tutoring project in West Philadelphia. He has a master’s degree in public policy from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in social policy from the University of Manchester, England.

 His research interests include program evaluation, school finance, volunteer tutoring programs, standards-based and accountability-based school reform, racial segregation in schools and the impact of pre-school care on school readiness. He has worked with school districts and states on issues related to school funding litigation and coordinated evaluations for local school districts in Arkansas. Ritter has collaborated with federal education officials on projects, such as the Campbell Collaboration and the What Works Clearinghouse, that focus on sharing the results of program evaluations with policymakers.

Ritter holds one of six endowed chairs in the department of education reform. The department’s mission is to advance education and economic development by focusing on the improvement of academic achievement in the public schools. Faculty conduct leading-edge research aimed at strengthening education policy and translating policy into effective education reform at the state, school district, school and classroom level.