Friends:
I share a sad and disappointing message this morning from University of Texas College of Education Dean Charles Martinez. Dean Martinez’s decision to step down marks the end of a chapter defined by vision, collaboration, and impact. Under his leadership, the College of Education grew in stature, reach, and purpose—strengthening community partnerships, elevating research, and supporting the success of both students and faculty. His steady guidance has left the college on a stronger foundation, and his commitment to equity, belonging, and innovation has made a lasting imprint on all of us.
We must ask the hard question: why would our university leadership choose not to endorse the continued service of one of the most effective and visionary deans our College of Education has ever had? Dean Martinez’ record speaks for itself—rising national rankings, expanded research, stronger community partnerships, and a deepened culture of belonging and innovation. His leadership has elevated the college and brought pride to the entire university.
This decision raises serious concerns about how leadership defines and supports excellence, and whether the values that Dean Martinez embodied—equity, collaboration, and transformative impact—are being sidelined at precisely the moment they are most needed. It is not only disappointing; it is disheartening. At a time of such change and challenge in higher education, we should be reinforcing leaders who have shown courage, integrity, and results, not pushing them aside.
While this transition is difficult, I remain grateful for his years of dedicated service and the example he set of principled leadership in challenging times. My hope is that our community will honor his legacy by carrying forward the work he championed: building bridges, advancing justice, and transforming education in ways that serve not just UT, but all of Texas and beyond.
-Angela Valenzuela
When I came to The University of Texas at Austin seven years ago, I was drawn to the role of dean at the College of Education because of a clear sense that the college was ideally positioned to build upon its foundation of excellence and become the most impactful college of education in the country. Our college provided the opportunity to join a dedicated community of scholars, educators, students, and staff committed to transforming lives through education and health. The promise of working alongside colleagues who share an unwavering focus on serving all of Texas, leading innovation, and delivering the world-class education needed to ensure a vibrant future inspired me then and continues to do so today.
You may know that I am among the longest serving current academic leaders at UT. Although I have expressed my commitment to continue serving as your dean as we work to mature and sustain the success we have achieved over these past seven years, it is important to acknowledge this time of significant change in higher education. With new leadership in place at UT, our president and provost are working to build the team they need to advance their vision and priorities within this changing landscape. As such, I will be concluding my service as dean at the end of this academic year. I know that our college community is committed to charting a course for the future that will continue to enhance our transformative impact, and I am confident that President Davis and Provost Inboden will actively seek your input and perspectives as they guide UT into its next chapter.
As I reflect on our journey together, I am filled with profound pride in the accomplishments we have achieved as a college. We have expanded our research portfolio, deepened our connections with communities across Texas, fostered a culture of collaboration and belonging, and prepared generations of Longhorns to shape the future of education, health, and sport. These collective efforts have elevated the college’s reputation, fortified its foundations, and reaffirmed our dedication to excellence and opportunity for all.
Our accomplishments together in the College of Education over the past seven years are extraordinary, but here are a few highlights:
Graduate school rankings have risen ten points in the past two years alone. This year we are ranked No. 4 among public colleges of education and No. 6 overall, making us the highest ranked graduate school or college at UT.
Undergraduate enrollment has increased by more than 40% in the last six years, and we have grown more (by percent) than any college or school at UT during that time.
Our 82% four-year graduation rate sets a new benchmark for student success and ranks among the very top at UT.
We have seen a 70% increase in the number of faculty engaged in externally funded research, and our research expenditures rank us third among UT colleges and schools.
We have refined numerous degree programs in response to the changing workforce landscape in Texas and have launched new interdisciplinary graduate programs that address the most pressing challenges in our field, most recently in prevention science.
With strong and trusted partnerships, we have organized the college to transform education and health outcomes statewide through programmatic innovation, including the Texas Education THRIVE teacher mentoring program and the LONESTARP3 research-practice-policy network.
Thanks to generous champions and our ability to inspire their passion and dedication to our mission, we have more than doubled our ambitious fundraising goal set early in the What Starts Here campaign, providing historic and enduring levels of support for student scholarships, academic programs, bold research initiatives, and student-facing facilities in the Sánchez Building and Bellmont Hall.
Throughout my 30-year career, I have never experienced such remarkable impact with such a talented, courageous, and far-reaching team. Undoubtedly, we have been the right people at the right time. It has been an extraordinary privilege to work alongside all of you to create lasting impact. Serving as your dean has been the highest honor of my professional life.
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to every member of our community for your trust, your partnership, your authenticity, and your dedication to the mission that unites us. I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the coming year, and to cheering on the College of Education as it continues to achieve new heights in service to our university, our communities, our state, and the world.
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