Events

Building a Lasting Legacy

Nearing the end of his term as dean, David Chard explores his time at BU Wheelock and his hopes for the future

As Dean David Chard prepares to say farewell to his role as dean of BU Wheelock, he sat down for a final Conversations with the Dean webinar—but this time, he was the one being interviewed. Chard, who will step down as BU Wheelock dean at the end of June, was interviewed by Mary Churchill, associate dean for strategic initiatives and community engagement.

Since assuming the role first of dean ad interim and then permanent dean, Chard has spent his years at the helm of BU Wheelock building what is sure to be a lasting legacy. From his leadership during the merger between BU School of Education and Wheelock College, to the development of the college’s strategic plan that defines our values, goals, and missions, to the growth in research across the college, to his commitment to intentionally addressing structural barriers that impede progress for children, families, and communities, he leaves BU Wheelock with a firm foundation to move forward.

Tune in to hear as Dean Chard shares his thoughts about his experiences and accomplishments over the past few years.

Highlights from the Conversation

Leading a successful merger

I’m proud of the people who have made that transition, [particularly the] students who made the transition to BU from [historic] Wheelock. That was a challenging time for them . . . but in fact, 92% of the students who made the transition graduated successfully and on time. I’m full of pride of the people who made the transition and created the Wheelock that we have today.

David Chard

The importance of higher education

The challenges in higher ed today are political in part. We are living in an oddly anti-intellectual space as a leader of the free world for a population to not understand the role that higher ed has played in its economic development. . . . But at the bottom line, higher ed is the engine of our democracy.

David Chard

Hopes for the future

I just hope people keep going. . . . We have such a strong team who genuinely enjoy working together, and I want that to continue. . . . We are very lucky to have faculty who really care about making a difference outside the walls of academia and will continue to work together to do that work and are energized by it.

David Chard

Thoughts for the next dean

That is the value of a really powerful higher education system—when you’re not only preparing students, but you’re also doing fundamental research around how to improve practices, how to help people thrive, how to change systems so people thrive. And you’re disseminating that research, you’re out there applying it in the field. This is such a great job, and the next dean will get to see this.

David Chard