Deidre Sessoms named College of Education Interim Dean
On Dec. 14, President Wood announced that Sacramento State is launching the National Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Education (I-AI) and that Dr. Alexander “Sasha” Sidorkin will serve as the University’s Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. Sasha Sidorkin will be leaving his role as Dean of the College of Education to take the new position. Please join me in thanking Dr. Sidorkin for his leadership and vision and wishing him the best in his new position.
I’m pleased to announce that Dr. Deidre Sessoms has been named Interim Dean of the College of Education.
Sessoms holds a Ph.D. in Science Education from UC Davis, public school teaching certification in mathematics, biology, and chemistry, and a B.S. from Southeast Missouri State University in biological sciences. A seasoned educator with 26 years at Sacramento State, she has served in many positions, most recently as Associate Dean for Instruction and Student Success in the College of Education. Other Sacramento State leadership positions include Chair of Teaching Credentials, founding Director of the Student Research Center, Director of Faculty Research Development, Interim Director of First Year Experience Programs, and Director of the Middle Leader Academy of the CSU Student Success Network. Her service to the University extends to the Faculty Senate and its Executive Committee, standing university committees including the University Budget Advisory Committee and the Senate Retention and Graduation Subcommittee, which she chaired.
Dr. Sessoms’ research in STEM education has resulted in two recent publications, including an invited chapter in the AAAS book, “Impacts of the STEM Teacher and Researcher (STAR) Program on Teachers, Students, and Classrooms,” and a research article that has been accepted for publication by the journal Science Education titled “Student Outcomes of Practicing Teachers Who Engaged in a Pre-Service or Early Career Teacher Research Experience Program.”
Dr. Sessoms has an extensive record of procuring external grant funding, serving as PI or Co-PI on grants totaling over $8.7M, including 8 funded proposals from the National Science Foundation focused on equity and student success in STEM education. She is a recipient of the College of Education’s Outstanding Community Service Award and the Sacramento City Council Outstanding Community Service award.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Sessoms on her interim appointment.
Carlos Nevarez
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
