Cynthia Grutzik appointed dean of SF State's Graduate College of Education

Cynthia Grutzik has been appointed dean of San Francisco State University’s Graduate College of Education (GCOE), the University announced today. She succeeds Interim Dean Nancy Robinson, who has served in the position since January 2017. Her appointment is effective August 6, 2018.

“This is a pivotal moment for the Graduate College of Education, which has already made great strides thanks to the dedicated efforts of its faculty, staff and administration,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jennifer Summit. “Under Dean Grutzik, the College has an exciting opportunity to bring those efforts to a new level. And I want to extend a special thanks to Interim Dean Nancy Robinson, whose able leadership of the college during the last two years has been an expression of her deep commitment to the GCOE, its powerful legacy and its outstanding faculty and staff.”

Since 2012 Grutzik has served as the associate dean of the College of Education at Long Beach State University, where she supported credential and undergraduate programs, accreditation and assessment, curriculum, outreach, recruitment and district partnerships. A former elementary school teacher and past president of the California Council on Teacher Education, she researches and publishes on the educator preparation pathway and how to support students in the transfer process. Grutzik says she is dedicated to the creation of educational institutions that “build and model democratic learning environments where everyone has a voice and an equal opportunity to succeed.”

Grutzik received a bachelor’s degree in diversified studies from Westmont College, a teaching credential from Fullerton State University, a master’s degree in language, reading and culture from the University of Arizona, and a Ph.D. in education and information studies from the University of California, Los Angeles.

“SF State is an educator prep powerhouse and contributing to that is really exciting. It’s a great fit for me given what I’ve been doing for the last 20 years in teacher education and what SF State is positioned to accomplish in the region,” said Grutzik.