Message from Marguerite Parks, Associate Dean

As the new Associate Dean of the College of Education and Human Services at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, I am excited by the opportunity to take a leadership role in an organization filled with incredible leaders. Applying for the position required a leap of faith in my fellow faculty and staff to be willing to support me in this new role. I look forward to serving the campus and community as we strive together to meet the challenges of the future.

As an introductory bio, I hold a Bachelor’s of Art in Speech and Theatre Education from Iowa State University, a Master’s of Arts in Educational Policy from the University of Wisconsin Madison and a PhD in Curriculum and Supervision with an emphasis in Minority Education and Social Foundations from the University of Iowa. I student taught, and taught, in the Kansas City, Kansas School District for 6 years. My teaching assignments included Speech, Drama, English, Debate and Forensics. Before starting at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, I taught at Ripon College for nine years. 

For those of you who don’t know this, my major area of interest is diversity. A major goal of my years in this position is to solidify the colleges’ commitment to issues of diversity. Having been on the University Diversity Council, Chair of the College Diversity Committee, a University Representative to the Equity Scorecard project and currently serving as the University Adviser to the UW System Race and Ethnicity Institute brings both experience and connections. In addition, this year I assume the role of President of the Wisconsin State Human Relation Association which brings contacts in the field from throughout the state and the country.

The role of Associate Dean brings a lot of “tasks.”  These tasks include accreditation, program assessment, licensure, program development and student appeals. But I first and foremost see the role as that of an advocate for faculty, staff and students. I do not know all the answers, but I am willing to try and find them. I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to the challenges that will come.

Dr. Marguerite Parks' Bio