Deep Dive in Five with Adrienne Redmond-Sanogo, Dean of the Connie L. Lurie College of Education

This semester, the Connie L. Lurie College of Education welcomed Adrienne Redmond-Sanogo as its newest dean. A former middle school mathematics teacher, Redmond-Sanogo has spent more than 20 years in higher education working to remove barriers to access and expand opportunities for all learners.

Prior to coming to San José State University, Redmond-Sanogo held leadership positions at Oklahoma State University, where she contributed to major institutional initiatives, including supporting a college merger, strengthening diversity and inclusion efforts, improving the quality of online programs, and supporting recruitment, retention and student success.

Her scholarly work centers on equity and access in STEM education, with a focus on supporting historically underrepresented learners. More recently, her research and professional contributions have explored the ethical and effective use of generative artificial intelligence to support educator preparation. In this work, she has developed faculty professional learning opportunities, contributed to national conversations, and published on the impact of AI in mathematics, science and STEM teacher education.

As a first-generation college graduate, Redmond-Sanogo is deeply committed to the mission of Lurie College. She is dedicated to preparing transformative educators and leaders who uplift and strengthen their communities while advancing equity, access and innovation in education. She was kind enough to answer a few questions about her vision for the college for today's Deep Dive in Five.

What drew you to SJSU's Lurie College of Education?

Adrienne Redmond-Sanogo (ARS): I am really drawn to the Lurie College of Education because of its clear commitment to equity, justice and community engagement. These are values that have guided my work as an educator, scholar and administrator. I am especially inspired by SJSU's identity as a student-ready university, where the institution listens to students, faculty and staff, and makes changes based upon what they need. That approach aligns strongly with how I led at Oklahoma State University, centering student success, shared governance and meaningful partnerships that improve outcomes.

How does your background as an educator inform your approach to leadership?

ARS: My leadership is grounded in my experience as a classroom teacher. I started as a middle school math teacher in a linguistically and culturally diverse Title I school, and that experience taught me that teaching is not only about content. It's about creating culturally sustaining spaces where students feel seen, supported and capable. As a leader now, I bring that same mindset: listen first, remove barriers and build systems that help students, staff, faculty and the community thrive. I lead collaboratively, with transparency and trust, because lasting change happens when people feel ownership and shared purpose.

Given our unique location in Silicon Valley, how do you see innovations in artificial intelligence shifting (or assisting) the future of teaching?

ARS: I see AI as a tool that can strengthen teaching and learning. If we approach it critically and ethically, AI can support educators with planning, differentiation, feedback and even helping candidates reflect on instructional decisions. At the same time, we have to prepare teachers to ask hard questions about bias, access, privacy and what it means to assess learning in an AI-enabled world. I'm excited about Lurie College's location in Silicon Valley because it creates opportunities to build partnerships that keep teacher preparation innovative, while still grounded in justice-centered and human-centered values.

What do you hope Lurie College students, faculty and graduates gain from their time at SJSU?

ARS: I hope they gain three things: a strong sense of purpose, the confidence to lead and the skills to adapt in a changing world. For students and graduates, I want them to leave feeling deeply prepared to serve diverse communities with excellence and care. For faculty and staff, I hope they experience a culture of support, collaboration and innovation, where their work is valued and resourced. Ultimately, I want Lurie College to be a place where people grow and where the impact reaches far beyond campus into schools and communities.

What excites you most about your work?

ARS: What excites me most is helping people thrive, especially students who may not always feel like higher education was built for them. As a first-generation college graduate who grew up in poverty, I've seen how education can change the trajectory of a life, of generations, of communities. I'm energized by building student-ready systems, supporting faculty and staff, and strengthening partnerships that expand opportunity. I also love leading through innovation with purpose, making progress while staying grounded in values, equity and real community needs.

Learn more about the Connie L. Lurie College of Education.