Posted by William A. Nunnelley on 2010-09-02

Dr. Jodi Newton, former superintendent of Homewood (Ala.) City Schools who joined the Samford University faculty two years ago, has been named associate dean of Samford’s Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education and Professional Studies. 

Dr. Angela Ansah, who has served on the education and professional studies faculty since 2002, has been named assistant dean of Academic Support Services for the school. 

Newton was superintendent of Homewood schools from 1998 until 2009.  Earlier, she was assistant superintendent for instruction with the Homewood system from 1993 until 1998.  Newton served Fairfield City Schools in various administrative roles from 1983 until 1993.  Before that, she taught in K-12 schools in Alabama and Georgia for 10 years. 

“Dr. Newton brings much expertise in the area of administration to this position and her credentials are very well-suited for the associate dean’s responsibilities,” said Dr. Jean A. Box, dean of Samford’s education and professional studies school.  “Planning strategically, designing curriculum, and keeping updated on the latest technology are just a few of her strengths.” 

Newton holds the doctorate in education from the University of Alabama, master’s degrees in counseling and guidance from the University of Montevallo and in English education from the University of West Georgia and bachelor’s degree from Samford. 

She received the Kermit Johnson Award as Outstanding Superintendent from the University of Montevallo in 2008 and was named Alabama’s State Superintendent of the Year in 2003.  Homewood won several national recognition awards during her tenure including being named the Silver Level LEED Certified School for leadership in energy and environmental design from the U.S. Green Building Council. 

Ansah will continue to serve as the assessment director and will oversee the process of annual accreditation reports and site visits for the school.  In addition, she will be responsible for coordinating faculty, staff and evaluations for the school. 

“Dr. Ansah has worked tirelessly in many of these areas for several years,” said Dean Box. “She brings outstanding strengths in quantitative research and assessment, and we look forward to her continued contributions in these as well as other administrative areas.” 

Ansah is a board member of the Southeast Regional Research Laboratory for the continuous improvement of social, political and educational developments in the U.S.  She serves as editor of The Educational Collaborative Journal and regularly contributes articles and book reviews to journals in her discipline. 

Ansah holds the Ph.D. degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, master of education from the College of New Jersey and undergraduate degree from the University of Ghana.  She also completed a residency at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.   

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.