Shepard to retire next year

Lorrie Shepard, dean of the School of Education at CU-Boulder, will retire from that post effective May 31, 2016, but will remain at the university as a distinguished professor of research and evaluation methodology.

Shepard has served CU for 41 years, first as a faculty member and then as chair of the Research and Evaluation Methodology Ph.D. program and director of graduate studies in the School of Education. She has been in her current leadership role since 2001. CU-Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano, who led the School of Education as dean earlier in his CU career, worked alongside Shepard for many years.

“Dean Shepard has made enormous contributions to the University of Colorado and the education preparation community in Colorado and nationwide with her leadership, vision and commitment,” DiStefano said. “I have been proud to call her my friend and colleague for the last 41 years, and we are thrilled that she will remain on the CU-Boulder faculty sharing her knowledge and passion for quality education for all.”

Shepard is credited with transforming the School of Education into a nationally recognized leader in education research with the school ranking at the 95th percentile of scholarly productivity by faculty among colleges and schools of education nationwide.

As a researcher, Shepard is known for her research on psychometrics and the use and misuse of tests in educational settings. Shepard’s technical work has advanced validity theory, standard setting and statistical models for detecting test bias. Her other areas of expertise include formative assessment, classroom instruction and early childhood education/school readiness.

With the recent launch of the CU Engage center, the School of Education has become a campus leader in community-based learning and research, stemming from the school’s model of scholarship that integrates research, teaching and outreach.

Shepard has served as president of the National Academy of Education, the American Educational Research Association and the National Council on Measurement in Education. She has received Distinguished Career Awards from the American Educational Research Association, the National Council on Measurement in Education and the CU-Boulder Alumni Association.

Among many honors and distinguished lectures, Shepard received the 2005 Henry Chauncey Award for Distinguished Service to Assessment and Education Science from the Educational Testing Service. She also received the 2006 David G. Imig Award for Distinguished Achievements in Teacher Education from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

Shepard earned a doctorate in research and evaluation methodology and a master’s degree in counseling from CU-Boulder as well as a bachelor’s degree in history from Pomona College in Claremont, California.