Meet Our Interim Dean
Meet Emily Tanner-Smith, PhD, a Thomson Professor, and now interim dean. Dean Tanner-Smith takes on this new role after 8 years at the College of Education serving as a Thomson Professor in the Counseling Psychology and Human Services Department, a research scientist at the Prevention Science Institute, and executive director of the HEDCO Institute for Evidence-Based Educational Practice.
Our faculty, staff, and students have one thing in common: A spirit of discovery and dedication to creating positive change with the goal of a more equitable, educated, and healthy tomorrow.
If you plan to become a teacher, special educator, administrator, human service provider, or clinician you will find a diverse array of learning, social/cultural, professional, and practice opportunities at the University of Oregon College of Education.
In addition to academic programs, the COE includes an alliance of nationally prominent centers, institutes, and affiliated research and outreach units working together to educate our students, further groundbreaking research, and provide vital services to the community. Along with our degree programs, we offer teaching licensure, endorsements, and certificates for students interested in increasing their knowledge and adding credentials to their resume. At the frontier of policy and practice, we offer new ways to think, know, and learn.
Become a teacher!
UOTeach is a rigorous, one-year master’s degree and teacher licensure program designed to prepare educators for diverse classroom settings. Our program emphasizes equity-focused pedagogy, clinical practice, and professional preparation aligned with Oregon licensure requirements.
Sapsik'ʷałá Teacher Education Program
Sapsik'ʷałá, a Ichishkíin/Sahaptin word meaning "teacher", is the name of a program created by the University of Oregon College of Education in partnership with the nine federally recognized Tribes of the State of Oregon. The 12-month program allows participants to earn a master of education (MEd) degree and teacher licensure.
The Sapsik'ʷałá Teacher Education Program supports American Indian and Alaska Native teacher candidates in becoming professional educators, provides funding for teacher candidates' cost of attendance, and provides two years of support services once in the field.
We are the highest-ranked academic unit at the University of Oregon, due largely to a decades-long record of national and international research and development in special education, counseling psychology, educational leadership, and school psychology. Our research culture is unique and highly influential because our faculty have a long tradition of translating research into effective models, methods, and measures that improve lives.
We have 43 commercial education products on the market right now. These innovations have an enduring impact in Oregon and across the nation.
Our faculty-developed research models, methods, curriculum, and assessment tools:
We are a premier provider of educational and related clinical services to local communities and the state of Oregon. We are also a critical provider of technical assistance to international governments ranging from Saudi Arabia to New Zealand to Denmark. And hundreds of children and adults are served each year by our outreach units.
With services such as learning disability assessments, speech-language pathology, family counseling, early childhood special education, and behavioral support for children with autism among many, we support children and families of all ages—from infants and toddlers to adolescents and young adults.
News
January 12, 2026
Expanding Access to Speech Services Across Oregon
This past summer, while many children were enjoying a well-earned break from school, students and faculty at the University of Oregon’s College of Education were hard at work at the HEDCO Clinic providing critical speech and language services to families across Lane County.
January 7, 2026
Weight stigma hits hard in a diet-focused culture, UO experts say
Nicole Giuliani, PhD, and Nichole Kelly, PhD sat down with OregonNews for a conversation about what we miss by focusing too much on weight and how we can reframe dieting or weight goals to support a more holistic view of both mental and physical health.
January 6, 2026
Alumni Spotlight: Margie Keck Smith
For Margie, earning her degree was more than an academic milestone, it was proof that it’s never too late to pursue a dream. “Maybe my story will encourage other graduates to take on a challenge they never thought they could do with any kind of success,” she says. Meet CDS alumna Margie Keck Smith, ’92, and discover her inspiring journey of reinvention.
December 23, 2025
What is comprehensive school suicide prevention?
As suicide rates for youth and young adults have increased over the past two decades, K-12 school systems have become an increasingly essential setting for providing comprehensive suicide prevention to youth. Read the HEDCO Institute article by John Seeley, PhD, COE's Associate Dean for Research, and Jonathan Rochelle, PhD, Research Associate, Suicide Prevention Lab, University of Oregon.
All News »
Our college is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates the diversity of our undergraduate and graduate students, our faculty, our staff, and our partners.
See our plans, activities, and opportunities.
Our international student scholars are represented across nearly all of our undergraduate and graduate programs.
5 Continents, 27 Countries, 102 Students.
We have International Students all over the world.
Once a Duck, Always a Duck
We love our alumni. They are an engaged community of accomplished Ducks who support student success and faculty research, share their wisdom in the classroom, and help graduates launch careers. With a strong network of personal and professional connections that last a lifetime, our alumni have a lasting and profound impact on the success of the college.