Higher Education

SUNY Geneseo names new Dean of Education

SUNY Geneseo has named Anjoo Sikka the new dean of the Ella Cline Shear School of Education, effective Sept. 1.

Sikka comes to Geneseo from the University of Houston-Downtown, where she has served in various academic capacities since 1994, most recently as professor of education in the university’s Department of Urban Education.

She also served as associate dean in the university’s College of Public Service and associate dean for graduate and off-campus programs in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Before going to Houston, Sikka taught at Mississippi State University’s Meridian Campus and worked on several federally-funded research and training projects in the area of blindness and visual impairment.

“When I first stepped onto the Geneseo campus, I was very excited to feel an atmosphere of excellence, and I want everyone to experience that,” said Sikka.

“My goal is to foster an active, thriving academic and learning community in the School of Education so our students and faculty feel energized and excited about teaching as a profession and a lifelong learning experience.”

Sikka received her doctorate in educational psychology from Mississippi State University and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Maharaja Sayajirao University in India.

Her research has focused on perceptions of effective teaching, self-silencing and depression, and teacher assessment. She has published and presented widely on those topics.

Sikka received the Professional Service Award twice from the University of Houston-Downtown. She is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi educational honor society and Phi Delta Kappa professional association for educators.

In addition, she is a founding member of the Association for Psychological Science and a long-standing member of American Educational Research Association.

“I’m delighted to welcome Dr. Sikka to this very important leadership position,” said SUNY Geneseo Provost Carol Long.

“She brings a breadth and depth of knowledge and experience to Geneseo that will benefit both students and faculty members in the School of Education. She has a keen grasp of the issues facing education in this country and innovative ideas to create a more agile system of teacher preparation. I look forward to the contributions she will make on our campus.”

The School of Education offers both undergraduate and master’s degree programs. The school has 32 faculty members serving 834 undergraduate and 133 graduate students.