The University of the District of Columbia is proud to announce the launch of the School of Education and Learning Sciences (SELS) — a bold step forward that coincides with the start of the UDC175 celebration. More than the creation of a new academic unit, this moment represents a powerful reaffirmation of the university’s founding mission: preparing exceptional educators for Washington, D.C. and beyond.
UDC President Maurice D. Edington emphasized the broader institutional and civic significance of the launch.
“The School of Education and Learning Sciences aligns squarely with our priority to drive economic and social impact across the District,” Edington said. “This moment represents our roots while advancing our responsibility as the city’s public university.”
District leaders also underscored the significance of the launch for the District’s future.
“The University of the District of Columbia has long been a gateway to opportunity for Washingtonians, and we are proud that UDC is reaffirming its historic role in training our city’s educators,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “The launch of the School of Education and Learning Sciences will build on UDC’s legacy as a pipeline to public service while ensuring we have more homegrown talent stepping up to teach and lead our young people.”
Approved by the UDC Board of Trustees last November, the school launches under the leadership of Interim Dean Anika Spratley Burtin, who will guide operations and early growth while ensuring continuity for students and community partners.
“This opportunity is both deeply meaningful to me and a profound responsibility,” said Burtin. “To join the legacy of an institution that has long served and shaped teaching and learning in the District of Columbia is truly humbling. As interim dean, my leadership will focus on building a strong foundation that honors this history while strengthening our role as a trusted partner to the community — preparing educators and leaders who work collaboratively with schools and communities.”
Burtin is a tenured associate professor at UDC and most recently served as acting associate dean of academic affairs at the College of Arts and Sciences. Over her career at UDC, she has chaired the Division of Education, Health and Social Work, led national accreditation efforts, secured federal grants and built enduring partnerships with education agencies and organizations.
Chief Academic Officer April Massey expressed confidence in the school’s leadership and long-term potential.
“Dr. Burtin’s vision and stewardship will be pivotal in shaping a school that prepares exceptional educators, and serves as a hub for innovation, collaboration and equity in education,” Massey said.
Meeting a Critical Need in the District
School districts nationwide are confronting persistent teacher shortages, with the impact felt most acutely in diverse urban communities. The District of Columbia needs educators who are well prepared, culturally responsive and deeply connected to the communities they serve. As the only public university in the District, UDC is uniquely positioned to meet that need.
“As Washington, D.C. works to make our strong public school teacher corps even stronger, I am thrilled that UDC will assume its historic position at the center of the teaching profession,” said Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn. “The new School of Education and Learning Sciences will ensure more of D.C.’s own young people enter this noblest of professions — and that local innovation in teacher preparation continues to grow.”
By strengthening the high-quality pipeline of educators, the school reinforces the city’s capacity to ensure that every student has access to excellence.
“We are investing in the people who will guide the growth and success of future generations,” Edington said. “This effort ensures UDC continues to shape education in ways that meet the evolving needs of our city.”
A Legacy Rooted in Teacher Preparation
Teacher preparation is foundational to UDC’s identity. The university’s roots trace back to 1851, when Myrtilla Miner founded the Miner Normal School to train young Black women as teachers — an act that fundamentally transformed access to education in Washington, D.C.
Generations of educators have since emerged from Miner Teachers College, Wilson Teachers College and D.C. Teachers College, shaping public education across the region. The new School of Education and Learning Sciences carries that legacy forward — connecting 1851 to today with renewed purpose.
“I have always believed in being prepared for opportunity,” said UDC alumna and former Board of Trustees member Anntoinette “Toni” White-Richardson (’95). “When the D.C. Public Library posted a position as an education specialist, I knew it was mine. The role required a master’s degree in education with a focus on adult education — and thanks to UDC, I was prepared.”
Built for Strategic Impact
The launch of the school advances UDC’s 2024–2029 strategic plan, “Delivering on the Promise,” by strengthening the university’s academic identity, expanding professional pathways for students, and deepening mission-aligned partnerships with D.C. Public Schools, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education and other organizations supporting regional workforce development.
“This is our strategy in action — strengthening academic excellence, responding to the District’s workforce needs and fulfilling our responsibility as the city’s public university,” Edington said. “By investing in educator preparation and community partnerships, we are returning to our roots while ensuring opportunity leads to a positive impact.”
Advancing the Science and Practice of Learning
The School of Education and Learning Sciences will offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in areas such as adult education, early childhood education, elementary and special education, teaching and human development. These programs will benefit from focused leadership, increased autonomy and deeper community engagement.
Under Burtin’s leadership, the school will also pursue future program expansion, including a potential doctorate in education, and serve as a thought partner on PreK–12+ education policy.
“The school represents a thoughtful investment in UDC’s future,” Massey said. “It strengthens our academic framework, supports long-term institutional stability and allows the university to grow with intention while advancing its public mission.”
Launching With Strength and Stability
The School of Education and Learning Sciences begins with a strong operational foundation. Faculty, space, curricula and partnerships remain fully intact, ensuring students continue progressing toward their degrees without disruption — now with a clearer identity and expanded support.
As faculty returned to campus for Opening Spring Professional Development, members of the School of Education and Learning Sciences convened for the first time as a unified faculty, marking an important early milestone in the school’s launch. Together, faculty began strategizing next steps in building the school, including the development of a shared mission and vision aligned with the University of the District of Columbia’s broader mission and its commitment to serving the District.
Faculty are also reviewing existing courses and program offerings across PreK–12 education, adult education and human development. This work is focused on strengthening curricular relevance, ensuring programs prepare graduates to meet current workforce demands and realigning course schedules to provide students with clear, coherent pathways to graduation.
As interim dean, Burtin will oversee the transition of programs and students from the College of Arts and Sciences into the new school, ensuring seamless operations and sustained academic excellence Districtwide.
“While our name and visibility evolve, our commitment to academic excellence, student success and educational innovation remains constant,” Burtin said. “This transition opens new pathways for impact while preserving the stability our students deserve.”
Alongside this internal academic and operational work, faculty are also introducing the school to the broader education community. On Jan. 15, the school hosted a dinner for leaders from D.C. Public Schools and D.C. Public Charter Schools to strengthen existing partnerships and invite additional schools to collaborate with SELS. These efforts will expand professional development opportunities for current educators and strengthen clinical and student-teaching placements for teacher candidates.
Faculty are also organizing a meeting for students currently enrolled in SELS programs to explain the new school structure and formally introduce the full faculty, with a planned social gathering to help students connect as the school grows into its new SELS community.
A national search for a permanent dean will begin in early 2026, signaling the university’s commitment to long-term leadership and sustained growth.
A Promise Made — and a Promise Kept
As UDC prepares to celebrate 175 years of service to the District, the launch of the School of Education and Learning Sciences stands as a signature achievement of the UDC175 era. It honors the educators who built the foundation — and those who will carry it forward.
In a time when legacy carries renewed meaning, the school stands as a living extension of Myrtilla Miner’s vision — affirming that education remains the foundation of opportunity, empowerment and public service at the University of the District of Columbia.
Learn more about the School of Education and Learning Sciences — and how to be part of this enduring legacy.