1. Southern Connecticut State University
  2. From the Provost, re: Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies

From the Provost, re: Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies

April 11, 2024

Dear Southern Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Rabia Hos has agreed to serve as our next Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies.  Many of you met Rabia during her campus interview and responded with high praise for her vision, collaborative nature, and strong credentials. 

Rabia has served as Graduate Program Director for the School of Education at the University of Rhode Island and as Department Chair for the Department of English Language Teaching at Zirve University in Türkiye.  She has been well funded for her scholarship on global education, multilingual learners, and STEM, from agencies such as the U.S. Department of State, Rhode Island Department of Education, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Nellie Mae Education Foundation.

Dr. Hos is the vice president for the Multistate Association for Bilingual Education (MABE).  She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of English Language Studies, Co-Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Educational Research, and a member of the Editorial Board for three other international journals.  Her strong publication and grant record is reflected in her ongoing and active plans to retain her deep collaborative scholarship going forward. 

Rabia holds many honorifics including a Beatrice S. Demers Foreign Language Fellow via the Rhode Island Foundation, a Global Teacher Education Fellow via the Longview Foundation, and an English Language Specialist for the U.S. Department of State.  Dr. Hos holds a Ph.D. in Education, Teaching, Curriculum, and Change, an MS in Education, Teaching English Speakers of Other Languages, and a BA in English and Psychology - all from the University of Rochester.  I know that you will all join me in welcoming Rabia when she officially joins Southern starting June 28, 2024.

I also want to offer my very deepest and sincere thanks to Dr. Julia Irwin. Julia has served as our Interim Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies since May 2022 and has done so with the greatest of professionalism and grace.  Julia’s tenure was highlighted by her creative and meaningful approach to education and scholarship.  She brought our graduate school team together, served as an ever-present advocate, quickly melded in a very proactive manner within our Provosts Council, and helped ensure the continued progress of our graduate students and curriculum.  

Finally, I want to again thank our dedicated search committee composed of Kauther Badr (Chair), Benjamin Abugri, Barbara Cook, Nicole DeWitt, Julie Edstrom, Alex Girard, Jackie Isabella, Jenna Retort, Kari Swanson, and ChristopherTrombly.  This team spent inordinate hours perusing candidate credentials, interviewing candidates, and debating criteria.   I know how seriously they each took their roles in this essential search and their time, energy, and efforts are deeply appreciated. 

Robert S. Prezant, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs