A leadership legacy continues and evolves

With Jacobson’s retirement in 2021 and Ramming’s in 2022, a new chapter of the program has begun. Upon reflection, both faculty members fondly remember the program’s beginning and evolution and the achievements of their students. “They’re my heroes, and the things that they’ve accomplished in their schools affect their teachers, which then affect their students,” said Jacobson. “It makes me feel like I have had some effect …That is what I am proudest of—the creation and the ongoing survival and development and growth of the LIFTS program.”

The retirements also offered a chance for a new wave of innovation.

As a trainer, educator, consultant and advocate, Erika McDowell was up for the challenge of serving as a faculty member in the program. McDowell, formerly the executive director of student support services in The School District of Philadelphia, joined GSE as a clinical associate professor of educational leadership and policy in the fall of 2022. She brought along her unique vision and philosophy to school leadership.

“I am a staunch equity practitioner. My goal is to give folks what they need to be successful,” she said. “I think every leader and every teacher comes to the work very differently, and it is my job to give you those skills and those tools that may be beneficial to you, and also give you that pedagogical and theoretical background to say, ‘OK, with these skills and who I am, how must I enact change in this district or in my environment so that all have a sense of love and belonging?’”

McDowell takes her role of supporting and guiding students seriously. Rather than waiting to discuss lofty ideas or problems of practice in class, McDowell’s students have her cellphone number, and she encourages them to use it when needing feedback or mentorship. Some students text to brainstorm rolling out a new policy or system at school. Others call to discuss elevating a concept from an assigned reading.

“I think, ‘How are the students? How are we supporting them?’ I think they are in a great place, but I want to continue that bubble of love, so they are getting what they need,” she said. Her students feel that love. “There have been many transitions in our personal lives, as well as this program. I am so thankful that Dr. Erika joined the team,” said Candace Dowdell. “She is definitely a change leader and an advocate for her students!”

Dowdell reports feeling assured that she chose the right university—largely because of McDowell’s arrival. “UB seems to be on an upward trajectory for change. I have observed the various efforts to magnify the voices of the BIPOC population.

Representation matters, especially as a Black woman.”

While McDowell is excited and honored to support her students, she is also committed to taking a step back to assess both the field and the program. “We want to enhance the things that we are doing well, but we also sometimes need to course-correct based on shifts in time and shifts in what’s happening in our atmosphere,” she said. “I see the program everevolving, centering on our most beloved—the learners we are teaching. And we—the collective we, who is doing the work—must make sure our books and what we teach are reflective of the cultural and linguistic communities that we serve.”

After UB’s commencement ceremonies ended this spring, the LIFTS program kicked off another academic year and welcomed a new cohort.

At the same time, GSE faculty, staff and alumni have worked to put the finishing touches on a celebration taking place on July 13 in honor of the program’s 30th anniversary. “We have some good things in store. It is going to be a lovely large event,” said McDowell, who reports that she has been designated as the party’s emcee.

In addition to celebrating the program’s anniversary, the gathering will offer a space to commemorate Jacobson’s retirement after his 35-year career at UB—a celebration that was put on hold as a result of the pandemic.

Rosenblith looks forward to the festivities and the opportunity to honor the past, present and future of innovative school leadership programming at GSE.

“Hats off to Steve for what he did in creating this program and to all of the folks who carried it on throughout the years,” she said. “I’m also really looking forward to seeing where Erika and our other faculty take it. I think that they are going to build on it. Thirty years becomes a point to reflect and say, ‘We’ve done a good job, and now how can we make it even better and make sure that we’re still attending to its original purpose?’ I think that it is really in good hands, and I look forward to seeing what the next 30 years look like.”

In addition to degree information for GSE alumni listed in Learn, we also include alumni credentials for the Advanced Certificate, as well as other GSE programs such as LIFTS (Leadership Initiative for Tomorrow’s Schools).