This fall, the UConn Neag School of Education welcomes a new faculty member, a new assistant dean, and congratulates an existing faculty member on a new appointment.

Dean’s Office

Matthew Hancock — Assistant Dean and Chief Operating Officer

The Neag School welcomed Matt Hancock as its new assistant dean and chief operating officer in late June. In this role, he is responsible for managing the administration of the Neag School and acting as the chief agent for all administrative matters, including overseeing the areas of fiscal administration, facilities, information technology, human resources, and Dean’s Office operations.

Hancock brings nearly two decades of experience in public higher education, spanning finance, human resources, academic administration, and institutional research. Throughout his career, he has partnered with academic and administrative leaders on academic operations, strategic planning, enrollment management, accreditation, and student success initiatives. His work has focused on leveraging data and analysis to inform decision-making, improve outcomes, and advance institutional priorities.

“Matt brings a strong record of leadership and collaboration in higher education, along with expertise in the operational areas that are critical to advancing our work at the Neag School,” Dean Jason G. Irizarry says. “His strategic, data-informed approach will be invaluable as we continue strengthening the School’s impact.”

He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Sheffield and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from UConn.

Bianca Montrosse-Moorhead — Department Head, Educational Psychology

Bianca Montrosse-Moorhead, professor in the Department of Educational Psychology, has been named the new head of the department.

In this role, Montrosse-Moorhead will collaborate with faculty and programs; lead academic initiatives; supervise and develop personnel; oversee hiring and reviews; support student success; manage departmental operations; implement strategic processes; and represent the department within the University, aligning efforts with its mission and advocating for its interests across campuses.

“Dr. Montrosse-Moorhead brings a clear vision for the future of the department and a deep commitment to advancing its teaching, research, and service missions,” Irizarry says. “I am confident that she will be a strong advocate for the Department of Educational Psychology and an effective leader within the Neag School.”

A member of the Neag School faculty since 2013, Montrosse-Moorhead previously served as coordinator of the department’s research methods, measurement, and evaluation programs. Montrosse-Moorhead specializes in evaluation methodology, theory, practice, and capacity building. She is currently a co-PI on the UConn Quantum Alliance, leading its external evaluation. Since 2023, she has served as the co-editor-in-chief for New Directions for Evaluation, an official journal of the American Evaluation Association. Montrosse-Moorhead earned her Ph.D. in evaluation and applied research methods from Claremont Graduate University in California.

Department of Educational Psychology

Kathleen Williamson — Assistant Clinical Professor

Kathleen M. Williamson is an assistant clinical professor in the school psychology program. She earned her doctoral and master’s degrees in School Psychology from UConn and completed her postdoctoral training with UConn’s Collaboratory on School and Child Health. Williamson is a nationally certified school psychologist whose teaching and mentorship are informed by diverse experiences as a practicing school psychologist, researcher, and program leader.

Faculty Promotions

Effective this August, five Neag School faculty members have been promoted – two to the rank of professor: Michele Back in curriculum and instruction and Saran Stewart in educational leadership; and three to the rank of associate professor and tenure: Jacqueline Caemmerer, Zachary Collier, and Kathleen Lynch, all in educational psychology.

In addition, in January, Austina Lee stepped into the role of Director of School-University Partnerships in the Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s Teacher Education program. Lee joined the Neag School in August 2024, when she began as an instructor for our music education program. In January 2025, she was hired as an assistant clinical professor of curriculum and instruction and began serving as a professional development center coordinator for five districts, teaching across multiple cohorts and concentrations. In her role as director, Lee serves as the primary liaison between the Office of Teacher Education/Neag School of Education and its district partners.

Staff

The Neag School also welcomed three new staff members this past spring and summer.

Jodi Carr — Director of Assessment, Accountability, and Accreditation

Jodi Carr joined the Neag School in January as its director of assessment, accountability, and accreditation. She came to UConn from Radford University, where she served as director of assessment. Prior to that, she was the program manager for academic affairs at Texas A&M University. She earned her Ph.D. from George Mason University.

Alexandra Ghiz — Publicity/Marketing Coordinator

Alexandra Ghiz joins the Neag School Office of Communications this fall as its publicity/marketing coordinator. Ghiz has several years of experience in education communications, most recently at The Rivers School in Massachusetts. Prior to earning her master’s in marketing communications, she worked in operations at the Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Berkeley Nowosad — Finance Director

Berkeley Nowosad is the finance director within Business and Grant Services at the Neag School. A strategic finance and operations leader at UConn, she oversees multimillion-dollar budgets, grants, and shared services. She partners with senior leaders to strengthen internal controls, lead cross-functional teams, and advance equity-centered student success through data-informed decision-making in higher education and public service contexts statewide. Before joining the Neag School, Nowosad served as the business manager for Student Success at UConn. She holds a Master of Public Administration.