Van Dempsey

Van Dempsey, dean of UNCW’s Watson College of Education, has been reappointed to the Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission, according to a news release.

Dempsey has been a member of PEPSC since its inception. The additional two-year appointment was announced by the North Carolina General Assembly on June 30, the release stated.

"The education commission was created in September 2017 through Senate Bill 599 to serve as an advising body to the North Carolina State Board of Education on all aspects of teacher preparation, licensure, continuing education and standards of conduct," the release stated. "The purpose of PEPSC is to involve stakeholders in establishing high standards for North Carolina educators."

The commission has 18 members, including K-12 teachers, principals, administrators and superintendents, as well as deans of colleges of education around the state, according to the release.

Dempsey said in the release, “I am grateful to work with my colleagues on the commission, and with our partners at NC DPI, the State Board of Education and in the NC General Assembly. I look forward to our work ahead and doing our best to support education and educators in North Carolina.”

Dempsey is also a member of Governor Roy Cooper’s DRIVE Task Force, formed in 2019 "to achieve greater equity and inclusion in the education field," the release stated. He has served as dean of UNCW’s Watson College of Education since 2015.