Saint Mary’s Appoints Carol Ann Gittens as Dean of the Kalmanovitz School of Education

Saint Mary’s College of California has named Carol Ann Gittens, PhD, as the dean of the Kalmanovitz School of Education (KSOE). She will join Saint Mary’s on July 1, 2019.

Gittens comes to Saint Mary’s from Santa Clara University, where her robust experience and visionary leadership to advance innovative, high-quality, accessible, and dynamic programs within diverse and thriving academic environments has been highly successful. She has served in several leadership positions at Santa Clara University, including associate dean, Colleges of Arts & Sciences; interim chair, Sociology Department; interim dean, School of Education and Counseling Psychology; associate dean, College of Arts & Sciences; director, University Office of Assessment; associate dean, School of Education, Counseling, and Psychology; director, Liberal Studies Program; chair Department of Education, School of Education, Counseling Psychology, and Pastoral Ministries; and associate professor of Liberal Studies and Education.

Gittens possesses a strong commitment to social justice, inclusive excellence, and transformative learning in support of educational equity, collaboration, community engagement, and academic excellence. Promoting diversity and inclusion is a hallmark of her leadership profile. Her accomplishments are outstanding, as indicated by her recognition as a highly sought-after keynote speaker, educational workshop facilitator, assessment mentor, and accreditation readiness consultant for public and private universities and colleges.

“Dr. Gittens brings to Saint Mary’s a strong commitment to the core values of the Lasallian Catholic mission. Her stellar experience as a university administrator, faculty member, and international leader in educational effectiveness will benefit not only KSOE, but the entire Saint Mary’s community. We are proud to welcome Dr. Gittens to the College,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Margaret Kasimatis.

Gittens expressed excitement about her new position as dean of KSOE and shared the educational values that she will bring to Saint Mary’s. Two goals drive her practice as a teacher, scholar, and administrator. The first is an unwavering commitment to collaborative decision making. The second is to thoughtful, lifelong learning. “The Kalmanovitz School of Education and Saint Mary’s College are well-positioned for continued success in preparing accomplished teachers, counselors, school professionals, and educational leaders. I enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to promote innovative, high-quality, accessible, and dynamic programs within a diverse and thriving academic environment. I am especially looking forward to working with KSOE faculty and staff to build on current efforts in environmental literacy, Lasallian pedagogy, and urban education,” said Gittens. 

A well-published scholar, Gittens is an author and co-author of numerous articles, assessment instruments, and teaching tools focusing on critical thinking skills, numeracy, and dispositions in children and adults. She holds a B.A. in Psychology/Women’s Studies from UC Davis; M.A. in Psychology from UC Riverside; and a PhD in Social/Personality Psychology, Psychometrics, and Child Development from UC Riverside.