Shelley Wepner

Shelley B. Wepner is a Professor of the Doctoral Program in Education, Coordinator for the Signature and Higher Education Pathways, and Dean Emeritus of the School of Education. Before coming to Manhattanville in 2004 as Dean, she was Director of the Center for Education and Associate Dean of the School of Human Service Professions at Widener University, Chester, PA. There, she oversaw three doctoral programs and served as a chair or committee member for doctoral dissertations. Previously, she was a professor and administrator at William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ and a K-12 teacher and administrator.

Shelley’s current research focuses on the notion of critical friends for executive leaders in K-12 and higher education. Her research endeavors have included the leadership attributes and skills of executive leaders in higher education, K-12 literacy educators, and K-12 administrators. Additionally, the collaborative efforts of K-12 and higher education faculty and administrators have been the focus of her research on partnership development, especially as it relates to changing suburban schools. She has published over 160 articles, books, book chapters, instructional materials, and award-winning software packages.

She coedited the 6th edition of The Administration and Supervision of Reading Programs (Teachers College Press, 2021). She was honored to receive the Jerome L. Neuner Award for Excellence in Scholarly Publication from the American Association of University Administrators, and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education 2019 Educator of the Year Award.

Shelley received her EdD and MSEd in Reading/Language Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and her BS in Elementary Education (magna cum laude, minor in psychology) from the University of Pittsburgh.