New Dean for University of Waikato’s Faculty of Education

The University of Waikato has appointed Professor Roger Moltzen to the role of Dean of the Faculty of Education.

Professor Moltzen was previously the Deputy Dean and replaces Professor Alister Jones who has recently been appointed the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

In his new role Professor Moltzen will be responsible for the strategic management of the Faculty and maintaining and building the Faculty’s profile nationally and internationally.

Academic Background

He gained his teaching qualifications through Waikato, has taught and held principal roles in schools, and was appointed a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Education in 1988. Professor Moltzen’s areas of expertise include special education, inclusive education, teaching, learning and the curriculum and human development. In 2005 he was awarded the Prime Minister’s Supreme Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award.

As the new Dean, Professor Moltzen is keen to continue enhancing the Faculty’s strong research culture. His own experience includes leading numerous Ministry of Education research and development contracts.

Faculty Vision

“The Faculty of Education is highly regarded nationally and internationally for it the quality of its teaching, research, and professional learning and development programmes,” Professor Moltzen says. “Many new opportunities exist for us to build on this work and to enhance our reputation as a world leader in education. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead the Faculty into this exciting future.”

Professor Moltzen is known nationally and internationally for his extensive knowledge of gifted education and talent development, special education, inclusive education and tertiary teaching. He has spoken at numerous events and published widely on these topics. He is currently New Zealand’s delegate for the World Council of Gifted and Talented Children, a member of the European Council of High Ability and patron of the New Zealand Association of Gifted Children.

University of Waikato Vice-Chancellor Professor Roy Crawford says Professor Moltzen has worked for many years with the previous Dean, Professor Alister Jones, now the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor. “I look forward to working with Professor Moltzen as he builds on the many achievements of the Faculty of Education,” Professor Crawford says.