Dear Members of the TC Community,

I am pleased to announce my appointment of Katie Embree to serve as the College’s Vice President for Planning and Strategy and Chief of Staff to the President, starting today, August 16th. In her role, Katie will provide guidance and strategic leadership on a broad range of projects, activities, and initiatives, supervise daily operations in the Office of the President, oversee the Office of College Events, and assist in institutional planning, design, implementation and assessment.  

Katie brings to her new role deep institutional knowledge of Teachers College to go along with 25 years of experience in high-level academic and administrative affairs. In her most recent role as Senior Vice Provost, she oversaw the Office of Teacher Education, the Office of Academic Affairs Compliance, the Dean Hope Center for Educational and Psychological Services, the Office of Accreditation and Assessment and the Gottesman Libraries. 

Katie has amassed extensive administrative experience in academic affairs in progressively responsible roles and leadership positions at TC, starting in 1996 as an Administrative Assistant and then as Associate Director of the Center for Educational Outreach and Innovation. As Assistant Dean, Interim Associate Dean, Associate Vice Provost, and Associate Provost and finally as Vice Provost, Katie has overseen Student Affairs, the Office of Digital Learning, the Office of Continuing Professional Studies, the Academic Affairs Budget, Academic Affairs Administration and chaired the College’s Psychological Emergency Response Team and the Student Conduct Committee. Through the years, she has developed and clarified Academic Affairs policies and guidelines including Conflict of Interest and Commitment; the Faculty Handbook; Student Positions; and Retired Faculty and Visiting Scholars, among others. She also was instrumental in the creation of the College's Policy Library.

Before starting as a student at Teachers College, where she earned a doctorate in Higher and Post-Secondary Education, Katie worked as a Compliance Officer for an insurance training company, and completed an MBA in Finance from Seton Hall.  She earned a BA with majors in Economics and Psychology from Drew University.

Katie Embree has been known for creating a culture of collaboration, caring, and mutual respect in the Vice Provost’s office. She also has been admired as an exemplary and enthusiastic TC citizen, giving generously of herself to the College. Several years ago, to commemorate her mother, she created the Wendy M. Dressel Student Emergency Fund, to get immediate assistance to TC students who have fallen suddenly into dire financial straits. To honor her father, she created the Morton T. Embree Award for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, which is given annually to two Course Assistants who have excelled in their roles. And with Marie Volpe, she established a bequest for an unrestricted endowed doctoral student scholarship.

Finally, with the long-anticipated return of in-person events, we all look forward to seeing Katie taking her customary position with chef’s apron on at the annual TC Community Cook-off. I, of course, look forward to a great working partnership with Katie, and invite you to join me in welcoming her to the other side of Zankel Hall!

Thomas Bailey
President, Teachers College