Dr. Laretta Henderson

Occupation

Dean, College of Education, Eastern Illinois University

Education
  • PhD, Curriculum and Instruction: Language, Literacy, Culture, Iowa State University
  • MA, African American World Studies, Iowa State University
  • MA, Sociology, Governors State University
  • BA, Sociology, Illinois State University
Notable Accomplishments

Henderson is exceedingly familiar with higher education initiatives at the national and regional levels. Most recently, she has served as associate dean for the School of Information Studies at University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee (UWM) beginning in 2015, where she helped develop and implement a academic programs and modernize the school’s outcome-based assessment structure. She also served as UWM’s chair of the School of Information’s executive committee (2014-15) and as co-director of its Black Cultural Center (2013). Prior to her career in Wisconsin, Henderson served as assistant dean of students, admissions counselor, and coordinator of minority student retention at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights (1992-95); admissions representative at Roosevelt University in Chicago (1991-92); assistant to the dean of the College of Nursing at University of Illinois at Chicago (1991); and as an admissions counselor at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago (1988-91).

In addition to her administrative appointments, Henderson also has a diverse array of academic experience. She served as associate and assistant professor in UWM’s School of Information and Library Studies (beginning in 2010); as assistant professor of English at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant (2003-06); a graduate instructor at University in Iowa in Iowa City (1998-2003); and as an instructor of sociology at East-West University in Chicago (1991).

Henderson earned a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Iowa in 2003. She also has earned two master’s degrees (African American world studies, 1999, University of Iowa; sociology, 1991, Governors State University in University Park, Illinois) and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Illinois State University (1986). She holds several professional certifications and training credentials, has authored three books, and has shared her research through a variety of professional journals and presentations.