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Meet Dean Michael Bullis
Since arriving at the University of Oregon as a faculty member, Michael Bullis has been a leader. Now he speaks out on why the college is the place to be
Michael Bullis -- a nationally recognized expert on at-risk youth and vocational preparation of youth with disabilities -- has headed the University of Oregon's College of Education since 2005. He first served as interim dean and then as dean under a special two-year appointment as a search for permanent dean ran longer than expected. Along the way, Bullis applied for the position and, in June 2008, was named dean. He has been working to enhance the already strong national and international reputation of the college.
Bullis entered the education field as an undergraduate at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., earning a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1973 and a master's degree in education five years later from Purdue. He moved west, completing a doctorate in education from the UO in 1983. After working at the University of Arkansas and Western Oregon University, Bullis returned to the UO in 1994. He was named the college's Sommerville-Knight Professor in 2005. (More on Bullis: A college feature and his faculty page)
In the videos below, you can hear the dean of the college talk about four areas that are important to him. Tune out the background noise: a train rumbles by far in the distance, and the wind was blowing through the trees where the outdoor interviews were conducted.
Listen and watch as Bullis:
- Explains why the College of Education is consistently ranked as one of the nation's leading colleges. Last spring, U.S. News & World Report ranked the college No. 5 for its graduate programs (up from No. 12 in the magazine's previous ranking … and best in the Northwest). The college is No.1 for faculty productivity in funded research per faculty member in the top 50 schools surveyed and No. 3 for its special education program (nine years in a row).
- Discusses his roadmap for the College of Education.
- Describes the college's research and outreach, including the process researchers go through to land grants -- and how research impacts the public.
- Tells potential students considering a career in education WHY they should come to the UO.