This February, Bank Street announced the appointment of Dr. Suzanne McCotter as the new Dean of the Graduate School of Education, effective July 1, 2025. Dr. McCotter brings extensive leadership experience and a deep commitment to student-centered learning, social justice, and community engagement.
Dr. McCotter joins Bank Street from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), where she most recently served as Interim Provost, overseeing 500 faculty and staff across eight schools and supporting 7,500 students. Her career began as a middle school teacher and evolved into leadership roles of increasing responsibility and impact. As Dean of the School of Education and later as Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education at TCNJ, she championed efforts to diversify the teacher workforce, supported first-generation students, and launched the New Jersey Tutoring Corps to address pandemic-related learning challenges.
Her leadership extends beyond academic programs. Dr. McCotter led TCNJ’s Social Justice Taskforce and was instrumental in launching the Center for Integrative Wellness, which promotes holistic health and well-being for students, faculty, and staff. She also secured funding for adult degree completion programs and built strategic educational partnerships with community agencies. Dr. McCotter has also demonstrated a strong track record with fundraising, building partnerships, and managing organizational change.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Suzanne McCotter as the new Dean of our Graduate School of Education,” said Shael Polakow-Suransky, GSE ’00, President, Bank Street College of Education. “Her journey in education reflects a deep understanding of teaching and learning at every level. Bank Street is confident that Dr. McCotter’s leadership and commitment to progressive education will drive the Graduate School’s next phase of innovation and impact.”
With a focus on collaborative professional development and educational leadership, Dr. McCotter’s scholarship has significantly advanced reflective teaching practices. She holds a PhD in Middle School Education from the University of Georgia and an MLS in Library and Information Science. Before her tenure at TCNJ, she served as Associate Dean in the College of Education and Chair of the Counseling and Educational Leadership Department at Montclair State University.
Dr. McCotter’s appointment follows a comprehensive national search that engaged the Bank Street community, including representatives from Graduate School faculty and staff, Children’s Programs, the Bank Street Education Center, Strategy and Operations, and the Board of Trustees. The selection process involved in-person meetings, discussions, and community feedback from faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
Dr. McCotter stood out for her energized, inclusive leadership style and her deep connection to Bank Street’s mission. Her father was a pre-K (4/5s) teacher at the School for Children and her connection to Bank Street first began in her youth during regular visits to her father’s classroom after school and on weekends. This lifelong connection, combined with her passion for fostering community engagement and amplifying Bank Street’s voice in the current educational landscape, made her the ideal choice for the role.
Dr. McCotter approaches leadership as a continuous learning journey and is eager to work alongside the Bank Street community. “Coming to Bank Street is a return to my professional and personal roots, with a focus on progressive education and making a difference for children, teachers, and schools. I’m thrilled to be working with a group of like-minded people who are pulling in the same direction and doing good work,” she said. “I am excited to collaborate with its inspiring educators, students, and alumni to advance the mission of fostering meaningful, reflective teaching practices.”