Mojdeh Bayat, a professor of child development and early education, will serve as interim dean for the College of Education beginning Jan. 2. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)
Mojdeh Bayat, an internationally known expert in the education and treatment of children with mental health issues and children with neurodevelopmental disorders, has been named interim dean for the College of Education, Provost Salma Ghanem announced Nov. 14. Her appointment begins Jan. 2.
A member of the College of Education faculty since 2005, Bayat, a professor of child development and early education, previously served as director of early childhood education in the early childhood doctoral program and associate chair of the Department of Teacher Education. She has served as the chair of the Faculty Council’s Chapter Four Hearing Committee and, since 2019, a member of the University Board on Tenure and Promotion.
“I am grateful for Dr. Bayat’s willingness to serve in this role and I look forward to working with her in this capacity," Ghanem says. "I am confident her leadership and organizational and diplomatic skills will serve the college very effectively during this period of transition."
Bayat has advocated for the educational rights of children with neurodevelopmental disorders in West Africa and Mexico. Her research focuses on innovative and positive approaches to the education of children who deal with mental health issues and ongoing stress and trauma. She has developed a model, called Resilience-based Interaction Model, which is designed to promote well-being and positive mental and behavioral health in all children. She also has written several peer-reviewed books and articles.
Bayat earned a PhD in child development at the Erikson Institute, an MA in early childhood special education at Northeastern Illinois University and a BA in law and society from American University
“It is an honor to be appointed as an interim dean, and I would like to thank Provost Ghanem for this appointment," Bayat says. "I am indebted to Dean Zionts for setting a great example to follow and would like to thank him for his many years of service to our college, particularly during a very difficult time."
“As an interim dean, I am committed to developing a vision and strategic plan for our college and fostering an inclusive, compassionate, respectful and fair community for faculty, staff and students," she adds. "I am excited to work with our talented faculty and staff, and look forward to establishing new collaborative relationships across DePaul, as well as forming new partnerships in the city of Chicago and the region. I am further committed to strengthening our cohesion as a college to embrace innovation and creativity, whereby we will inspire and educate mission-driven teachers, counselors, policymakers and educational leaders.”
On Sept. 23, Paul Zionts, dean for the College of Education,
announced he would step down from his role at the end of the calendar year. He has led the college since 2009.
“I am grateful for his leadership and his commitment to student excellence. He navigated the pandemic with increased communication and support for faculty, staff and students in the college and his counsel was invaluable at the university level,” Ghanem says.
A national search is currently in the early stages, with the hope of appointing a permanent dean for the 2023-24 academic calendar.