Dr. Dennis Pataniczek named Dean of Seidel School

SALISBURY, MD -- Dr. Dennis Pataniczek, professor and founding director of the College of Education at Florida Gulf Coast University, was recently named dean of the Samuel and Marilyn Seidel School of Education and Professional Studies at Salisbury University. The appointment is effective July 15, 2002.

"Dr. Pataniczek brings not only extensive classroom and administrative accolades," said Dr. David Buchanan, SU provost, "but first-hand experience with the national education school accreditation process and with professional development schools, both of which are critical to the continued success of the Seidel School."

"I am pleased and excited to have the opportunity to lead the Seidel School into its next level of excellence," said Pataniczek. "The faculty and staff in the Seidel School and SU form a real learning community, with a genuine sense of family."

"While there are some challenges ahead," he added, "I believe the strong faculty and staff in the Seidel School

will enable us to move forward and continue to collaborate with the professional community on the Eastern Shore to meet the education, social work, and physical education and health needs in the area."

In 1996 Pataniczek joined FGCU, which opened a year later, to develop the initial vision for its College of Education, providing the leadership in the recruitment of a team of student-focused faculty committed to the use of technology and active learning strategies. He subsequently developed partnership with five local school districts, including 20 individual schools and community agencies.

Currently he teaches courses in psychological and social foundations of education for teacher education students and serves as the College's Title II coordinator. He has coordinated FGCU's initial efforts at becoming NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) accredited. Salisbury became NCATE accredited in 2000. Since 1999, he has served as an appointed member of the state's Teacher Education Approval Board, and he currently serves as president of the Florida Association of Teacher Educators.

He has secured government contracts and grants for the FGCU College of Education totaling over $300,000.

Prior to joining FGCU, Pataniczek was professor and chair of the Department of Education and Human Development at SUNY College at Brockport from 1991-95. The New York Association of Teacher Educators named him New York State Teacher Educator of the Year during his tenure at Brockport.

From 1979-91 he was a member of the education faculty at the University of Oregon, teaching undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree seeking students. He also administered the departments of Teacher Education, and Student Support Services and Graduate Studies.

Pataniczek received his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Michigan State University, his M.S. from the University of California at Santa Barbara in confluent education and his B.A. from Michigan State in history.

The Seidel School includes the departments of Education, Physical Education and Social Work. Programs in all three departments are nationally accredited and are known both for the quality of their programs and the expertise of the faculty. Local philanthropists Samuel and Marilyn Seidel endowed the School with a $1 million gift in 1997.

Salisbury University, which was originally a teachers college, is renown for its teacher education program. In 1998 and again in 2001, 25 percent of Maryland's public school districts named an SU alumnus as its Teacher of the Year.