Greetings and Welcome to the School of Global Education!
The School of Education was established in August 2017 with the social justice mission of changing the culture of urban education, and I am extremely proud of the work we do. We prepare candidates to become teachers of children at the most critical periods of their development: early childhood and elementary levels. We also prepare candidates to serve children and students who are most vulnerable: children with exceptional learning needs. We accept the special obligations that are attached to educating teachers who will work and live within a multicultural community, and who will strive to promote the best education for all children. Please take some time to navigate our Website to learn more about our clinically rich and rewarding teacher preparation programs, research projects, conference presentations, grant support, and other opportunities. On behalf of the Chairs, faculty, and staff of the School of Education, I welcome you and look forward to helping you achieve your goals in becoming change agents for our schools and communities. Welcome to Medgar Evers College.
In love and service,
Sheilah M. Paul, PhD
Founding Dean
ABOUT DR. SHEILAH M. PAUL
Dr. Sheilah Marion Paul is the Founding Dean and Professor of Education of the nationally accredited School of Global Education established in August 2017 at Medgar Evers College (MEC). Dr. Paul previously served as Acting Dean and Associate Dean of the School of Liberal Arts & Education (now School of Liberal Arts, 2015-2017). She was the Education Department Chair (2013-2015), and a faculty member from 2003. Before joining Medgar Evers College, she was a Program Officer in Education and Health at the Dana Foundation in New York City.
Dean Paul leads the School’s teacher preparation programs housed in two academic departments: the Department of Multicultural Early Childhood and Elementary Education and the Department of Developmental and Special Education, which are supported by the School’s Center for Cognitive Development. She is the Board Chair for the Ella Baker/Charles Romain Child Development Center, a campus-based childcare center for student parents. She oversees the College’s Brooklyn Pipeline Initiative that provides college-and career-readiness and enrichment opportunities for P-12 partners, and the Early College Smart Scholars dual-credit program for high school students at Medgar Evers College Preparatory School.
Dr. Paul is an active member of several professional organizations, and made feature presentations at conferences in Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Grenada, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Dubai, and South Africa. Her peer-reviewed publications on Outcomes of Students with Disabilities in Developing Countries earned her the invitation as a Speaker to the UN Council Chambers on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2014. Dr. Paul’s research interests in student learning outcomes also aided in the transformation of special education in developing countries, evidenced by her roles on External Advisory Boards, as well as her contributions as Curriculum and Program Developer, Program Reviewer, and Professional Development Workshop Facilitator in several Caribbean countries, with features on both television and print media. Her other international contributions include Accreditation Assessor and were the only female among five international assessors for the Institutional Accreditation of the renowned University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica (2019). She also completed program reviews for The MICO College (2017) and will conduct the mid-cycle accreditation review for Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica (2022). Nationally, Dr. Paul served as a Program Reviewer for SUNY’s undergraduate and graduate programs (2020, 2012), and served on New York State Teacher Certification Examinations Standard Setting Committees (2018, 2014). She is currently serving on the Professional Standards and Practices Board (PSPB) of the New York State Education Department.
After graduating from Brooklyn College with a Bachelor of Arts (honors) in Psychology and English, Dr. Paul completed her graduate studies at Columbia University Teachers College. She holds three Masters degrees: Master of Arts Degree (MA) in Developmental Psychology, Master of Education Degree (EdM), and Master of Philosophy Degree (MPhil) in Special Education. She earned a Ph.D. in Education with a concentration in Special Education from Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. She also completed a Professional Education Certificate with Harvard University Graduate School of Education and is a member of the Inaugural Class of The CUNY Leadership Institute. Dr. Paul has a unique blend as a leader, educator, and practitioner: an experienced administrator, teacher educator, special educator, program and institutional accreditation assessor, as well as clinician in educational and psychological assessments, interventions, and services for individuals with disabilities. Her clinical experiences include habilitation specialist, counselor, and diagnostician for children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities for schools and provider agencies in the Caribbean and New York City.
Dr. Paul is an avid reader and a member of the RADIANCE (Redeemed, Anointed Divas In Alliance for a New Christian Experience) Book Club. She also established the ABC (Above, Beyond, and Continuation) faith-based program in Crown Heights, Brooklyn where she spends her Saturdays and Sundays nurturing and empowering children and youth.