Kathy Ryan, who has served the College of Education as an undergraduate academic adviser since 2004, has been named Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs.  She has served on a number of College and campus initiatives, including the Undergraduate Admissions Campus Recruitment Committee, Parkland Pathways to Illinois, and the Ad Hoc Committee on Honors.

Prior to coming to work for the U of I, Ryan worked at Bradley University as the coordinator of the Turning Point Retention Program, where she developed and implemented a campus-wide mandatory support program for all students placed on academic probation. She has also worked as an adviser at Illinois Central College in Peoria and for the University of Illinois at Springfield as an assessment coordinator in the Experiential and Service Learning Programs Office.

Ryan holds two degrees from the University Illinois at Urbana-Champaign—a bachelor's degree (AHS '82) and a master's degree in Education (EDU '87).

After completing her undergraduate degree in 1982, Ryan started her career on the U of I campus in Urbana-Champaign working for the University of Illinois Athletic Association. After earning her master's degree, she taught first and fourth grades in St. Louis, from 1987 until 1990.

"Kathy has been an outstanding resource and leader for the College of Education since her arrival," said Associate Dean of Academic Programs Christopher Span. "The entire staff in the Student Academic Affairs Office and I are thrilled that she has been selected for the appointment."