Walden University Selects Dr. Manuel Tomás Barrera III as Dean of College of Education

Minneapolis—June 1, 2006—Walden University, an accredited online institution, is pleased to announce the selection of Manuel Tomás Barrera III, PhD, as the university’s dean of the College of Education.

Walden University’s College of Education serves over 12,000 students seeking master’s and doctoral degrees from around the world. With more than 20 years of teaching, research and administrative experience, Dr. Barrera is uniquely qualified to advance the university’s mission of putting knowledge to use for the common good and to transform educational practitioners into scholars and leaders focused on making positive changes across the entire educational landscape.

Formerly, Dr. Barrera served as assistant professor of urban education and past chair of the Department of Education at Metropolitan State University, in Minneapolis, Minn. He has also held several administrative and teaching positions there, including special assistant to the dean of College of Professional Studies; project director of the Bilingual/ESL Pre-Service Teacher Support Program; and assessment coordinator for the Urban Teacher Program.

Dr. Barrera has maintained an active research agenda for intervention research and qualitative study on the effectiveness of instruction, assessment and parent involvement in the education of English language learners with disabilities. He continues his research with the National Center on Educational Outcomes at the University of Minnesota. He is an alumnus of the Holmes Scholars Network, a prestigious group of accomplished and aspiring research scholars of color.

“Dr. Barrera’s expertise and extensive background in special education and multicultural, urban education will be a valuable resource to the university,” said Paula E. Peinovich, PhD, president and provost of Walden University. “Under his leadership, I look forward to the College of Education’s students, alumni and faculty making significant contributions to the body of knowledge that informs effective educational policy and practice in an increasingly diverse society.”

Dr. Barrera earned his PhD in special education from Pennsylvania State University, a Master of Science in special education with rural and cross-cultural studies and a Bachelor of Science in secondary integrated science, biology and bilingual education from Western Oregon State College.

About Walden University
Since 1970, Walden University has offered working professionals the opportunity to earn advanced degrees through distance learning. Today, this comprehensive, accredited online university offers master’s and doctoral degrees in education, psychology, management, public policy and administration, and health and human services, as well as master’s programs in engineering and IT and bachelor’s completion programs in business. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.hlcommission.org; 312-263-0456.