Donald Hackmann, former Iowa State faculty member, will be coming back to campus to be the director of Iowa State’s School of Education.

In addition to being the director of the School of Education, Hackmann will be the inaugural Frances S. and Arthur L. Wallace Professor in the College of Human Sciences, according to a press release. He will begin his position July 1.

Hackmann is a professor of educational leadership at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He has been at the university since 2004. 

According to a press release, Hackmann served as interim department head of educational organization and leadership from 2007-09 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In 2013, he was promoted to professor. 

Hackmann started at Iowa State in 1998 as an assistant professor of educational administration. In 2001, he was promoted to associate professor with tenure and served until the summer of 2004. 

“The School of Education, with its commitment to social justice, is uniquely positioned within the state of Iowa to prepare outstanding educators and researchers, advocate for equitable learning opportunities and build supportive relationships and research partnerships across the P-20 continuum,” Hackmann said in a press release. “I look forward to working with School of Education students, faculty, staff and other colleagues as we strive to make a difference through our teaching, research and outreach.”

He previously has also served in positions at Illinois State University and Eastern Michigan University.  

“Dr. Hackmann’s deep understanding of educational issues positions him well for the director role,” said Laura Dunn Jolly, dean of the College of Human Sciences, in a press release. “School administrators, teachers and school board members across the U.S. look to his research-based findings to help them establish equitable learning environments. He will provide excellent leadership for the School of Education.”

Carl Weems, professor and chair of human development and family studies, and Anne Foegen, professor and director of graduate education in the School of Education were co-leaders in the search for the next director.

“Dr. Hackmann brings a tremendous breadth of experience across the P-20 spectrum as a teacher, school leader, faculty member and department head,” Foegen said in a press release.