University of Central Missouri: Experienced UCM Educator, Ann McCoy, Named College of Education Dean
Ann McCoy, Ph.D., a University of Central Missouri alumna with two UCM degrees, will be working to make a positive impact on the preparation of tomorrow’s teachers and school administrators as the new dean of the College of Education (COE). University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Phil Bridgmon, Ph.D., today announced McCoy’s appointment, continuing her service in the position in which she has served since May 2021 on an interim basis.
“Dr. McCoy has been an outstanding leader for many years and I am grateful she accepted the invitation to continue her service as dean of the College of Education,” Bridgmon said. “She cares deeply about our students and supporting our colleagues in their important work. She leads by example in her professionalism, service to others, and vision. Her ability to bring people together for a common purpose is extraordinary.”
Throughout her tenure at UCM, McCoy has touched the lives of students through her teaching in the classroom, while also utilizing her leadership skills in positions that included serving as a department and school chair, and most recently, associate dean.
“I am proud to be part of the College of Education and to work with the outstanding students and excellent faculty and staff who make up our college,” McCoy said in talking about her appointment. “I am excited about the opportunity to continue the work we have started in the COE to address our priorities of preparing for our national accreditation through the CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation), strengthening recruitment and retention, completing the program leadership/reorganization process, and finalizing our strategic plan.”
A longtime Clinton, Missour,i resident, McCoy’s affiliation with UCM spans more than 40 years, beginning with her pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education and Mathematics, which she completed in 1983. This was followed by a Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction in 1988, followed by a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction – Mathematics Education from the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 2011.
After serving as an elementary and middle school mathematics teacher for Clinton Public Schools for approximately 22 years, McCoy came to UCM in 2006 as a visiting assistant professor of mathematics education in the School of Computer Science and Mathematics. She was promoted to associate professor in 2012 and climbed the faculty ranks to become a full professor in 2017, when she was serving in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education.
Her career at UCM since then has included serving as a program coordinator of mathematics education; coordinator of the K-12 and secondary teacher education programs; coordinator for the elementary mathematics specialist program; coordinator of the Bachelor of Science in Education for elementary grades 1-6 program; chair of the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education; chair of the School of Teaching and Learning; and associate dean for the College of Education.
Faculty Senate President Rene Burress, Ph.D., an associate professor who serves as library science and information services program coordinator, commented on McCoy’s appointment. She described her as a caring leader who is trusted by faculty members.
“When there are hard decisions to make, faculty can rest assured that Ann will make them with the best interest of students, faculty, and staff at the forefront of her thought process,” Buress said.
In addition to her work at UCM, McCoy has played a role in groups and other activities that have had a statewide impact on education. This includes her appointment from 2014 to 2016 to the Missouri Department of Higher Education’s Elementary Mathematics Standards Workgroup charged with drafting a new set of standards for elementary mathematics in Missouri. She has also presented workshops designed to help schools in communities such as Belton and Macon transition to Common Core Standards.