The University of Connecticut has reappointed Jason G. Irizarry to a second five-year term as dean of the Neag School of Education, effective August 23, 2026.

“Since his appointment in 2021, Dean Irizarry has led the Neag School of Education with vision, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to equity, access, and excellence,” Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Pamir Alpay said in an announcement. “Under his leadership, the School has advanced its academic programs, expanded student support, deepened community engagement, and strengthened its national profile as a top 30 public graduate school of education.”

Alpay also commended Irizarry for leading the Neag School’s gains in student success and access, including the expansion of the School’s Early College Experience (ECE) enrollment from 201 students in 2021-22 to over 900 students across 25 districts in 2024-25. In addition, the Teacher Certification Program for College Graduates (TCPCG) and the UConn Administrator Preparation Program (UCAPP) have been redesigned during Irizarry’s tenure to improve affordability, quality, and alignment with workforce needs. Scholarships for students have doubled, and application fee waivers have supported the recruitment of a more diverse doctoral student body.

“To be reappointed as dean of the Neag School of Education is a tremendous honor,” Irizarry says. “I always say there’s no place like Neag and that is truly thanks to the dedication of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and community partners. I am humbled to lead such a remarkable group of individuals who seek to create equitable and inclusive learning and professional environments. The past few years have been a tumultuous time for education, from the COVID-19 pandemic and its lingering effects to new technologies and shifting student needs. Through it all, the Neag School has continued to innovate and prioritize support for students – both our own and the state’s K-12 population – and the needs of educational and social systems as a whole. I look forward to expanding on this important work in my second term.”

Irizarry has also championed excellence in academic and research initiatives. Since 2021, the Neag School has launched the Center for Connecticut Education Research Collaboration (CCERC), introduced the Neag School of Education Journal, and supported the creation of Rapid Research Briefs for Connecticut’s Alliance Districts, which are the lowest-performing and lowest-resourced school districts in the state.

The Neag School’s extramural funding portfolio continues to grow and now stands at roughly one-third of its operating budget. Irizarry’s leadership was praised as instrumental in enhancing research infrastructure, promoting faculty scholarship, and securing the largest individual philanthropic gift the Neag School has received in 25 years.

Under [Dean Irizarry’s] leadership, the School has advanced its academic programs, expanded student support, deepened community engagement, and strengthened its national profile as a top 30 public graduate school of education. &#8212 Pamir Alpay, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

With an emphasis on equity and inclusion, the Neag School has prioritized diversifying the educator workforce, expanding outreach efforts, and embedding equity throughout its strategic priorities. Under Irizarry’s leadership, the Neag School became a member of the National Holmes Scholars Program to support underrepresented doctoral students.

Irizarry is widely recognized as an equity-driven, collaborative leader who fosters a culture of transparency, shared governance, and community. Across the University and state, he is known as a respected partner and advocate, cultivating meaningful relationships with K–12 educators, policy leaders, alumni, and donors to strengthen the Neag School’s impact and elevate its visibility.

Irizarry is consistently described as an “accessible, principled, and innovative leader who brings compassion and strategic thinking to the complex challenges facing education today,” Alpay said. “Please join me in congratulating Dean Irizarry on his reappointment. I look forward to our continued work together to advance the mission of the Neag School of Education and to support the faculty, staff, students, and partners in making education more effective, equitable, and just for all.”