Concordia University Irvine (CUI) has appointed Kent Schlichtemeier, Ed.D. of Irvine as the new Dean of the School of Education . Schlichtemeier, who replaces retiring Dean Deborah Mercier effective July 1, 2019, has been serving as Assistant Dean of the School of Education at CUI since 2016.
In his new role, Kent Schlichtemeier, Ed.D. will continue the School of Education’s mission to train teachers to go into the world and serve. Preparing educators is a Lutheran tradition foundational to Concordia University Irvine since it opened in 1976 as Christ College.
“Dr. Kent Schlichtemeier’s wide breadth of education, combined with the respect of his peers, made him an obvious choice to lead the School of Education,” said Concordia University Irvine Provost Peter Senkbeil. “We are proud to have Dr. Schlichtemeier lead the School of Education’s dedicated faculty, and continue our longstanding partnerships with local schools and districts to produce teachers who are sought after in the field of education.”
Dr. Kent Schlichtemeier began his teaching career as a teacher and coach at the junior high, and later high school levels before becoming an Assistant Professor of Education and the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Concordia Irvine where he was named District III NAIA Coach of the Year. He served as a teacher and Assistant Principal at Orange Lutheran High School before returning to Concordia as a Professor of Education in the School of Education, and Assistant Dean since 2016. The Irvine resident has also been a speaker at numerous commencements, athletic camps, sports banquets, teacher conferences, and leadership retreats. Schlichtemeier earned his Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Math and Physical Education, and a minor in Biology from Concordia Teachers College in Seward, NE, later earning his Master of Arts degree in Sports Science from Denver University in Denver, CO. He earned his Doctorate in Education with a concentration in Educational Leadership from the University of California, Los Angeles.
The School of Education at Concordia Irvine offers bachelors, masters, doctoral, and credential programs at its Irvine campus, online, and in regional cohorts around California. Graduates of the School are teachers, principals, administrators and superintendents at public school districts, and private schools such as Lutheran schools, around the United States and the world, several having earned Teacher of the Year honors. To learn about the School of Education, visit www.cui.edu/education
ABOUT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY IRVINE
Concordia University Irvine (CUI) is a non-profit Lutheran Christian liberal arts four-year university that prepares students for their vocations—their calling in life. Concordia offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in education, nursing, theology, business, and athletics administration. CUI’s undergraduate program is distinctive because of its nationally recognized core curriculum, Enduring Questions & Ideas, and its Lutheran heritage that provides a thoughtful and caring Christian community that lives out the theology of "Grace Alone. Faith Alone." Concordia is a U.S. News Top Tier Regional University and has been named by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the fastest growing private nonprofit master's institutions. The university is part of the Concordia University System, the second largest education ministry system in the United States just behind the Catholic Church. The NCAA DII private university enrolls over 4,000 students annually.