Bobbie Kabuto has been appointed dean of the School of Education at Queens College, where she has taught since 2006. She has served as interim dean since 2022. Her appointment puts her at the head of one of the most highly regarded teacher-training grounds in New York and the City University of New York (CUNY) system.
“We are delighted that Professor Kabuto has accepted this appointment,” said Queens College President Frank Wu. “The School of Education is a large and dynamic part of our institution and it holds central importance to our mission as a public institution. She has both the scholarly depth and proven administrative skill and initiative to lead it.”
Kabuto, who resides in Port Washington, is a tenured full professor and past chair of the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education (EECE). She has a BS in biology with a concentration in education from the University of Richmond in Virginia, and an MS in education (literacy studies) and PhD in reading, language, and cognition (literacy studies) from Hofstra University; she holds a New York State permanent certification as a reading teacher. Prior to her academic career, she taught pre-kindergarten and second grade in Japan.
As dean, Kabuto will work to enhance the School of Education’s profile, visibility and effectiveness, developing long- and short-range plans and exercising management responsibility for academic program planning, faculty matters and administration, including staffing, budgets and facilities.
She will also work to foster a high-quality environment of academic teaching, research, and intellectual achievement, and create and strengthen partnerships within and outside the college as a strong advocate.
Kabuto said she is “proud and excited” to be named dean and will seek to prepare School of Education graduates for work in diverse urban communities.
“Having served the Queens College community for almost two decades, I am deeply committed to the equity-minded and inclusive mission of the college,” Kabuto said. “I look forward to fostering a progressive community of learners and leaders grounded in social justice, advocacy and the School of Education’s conceptual framework that centers on Equity, Excellence and Ethics (3Es).”
Responsible for academic leadership of the school, Kabuto has been preparing for the upcoming Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation process; updating the school’s curriculum; fostering teacher development, tenure and promotion; and overseeing teacher-education programs run by other departments at Queens College (such as Music Education).
She has also worked to develop new and continuing partnerships, including the Netter Center University-Assisted Community Schools Regional Training Center at Binghamton University, New York City schools, community service institutions and the Townsend Harris High School College Preparatory Program and Bridge Year Program. With an $11-million base operating budget, she also has launched new fundraising, advancement and alumni relations initiatives.
Queens College Provost Patricia Price said Kabuto brings a fresh perspective tempered by her 17 years of service to the college. Based on the feedback gathered by Witt/Kieffer across all stakeholder groups, Kabuto rose to the top of an outstanding group of national finalists for the position, Price said.
“I am so pleased that Dr. Bobbie Kabuto will become Queens College’s permanent dean of the School of Education,” Price said. “The quality of her vision and leadership have been apparent from the outset of her time as interim dean and I only expect these to strengthen as she transitions into the permanent position.”
