UMPI chair accepts job
with Ohio institution
Dr. Reginald Nnazor
PRESQUE ISLE — University of Maine at Presque Isle President Donald Zillman has announced that Dr. Reginald Nnazor, chair of the College of Education at UMPI, has accepted an appointment with Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio.
Nnazor began serving as dean of the College of Education at Central State University on Jan. 3. He was attracted to Central State’s mission, rich history and distinguished leadership as one of the United States’ historically black universities.
“While we are happy for our colleague (Nnazor), we will miss his visionary leadership and expertise,” stated UMPI Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Sonntag. “Our loss is clearly Central State’s gain.”
During Nnazor’s time as chair of UMPI’s College of Education, he led preparation of the College’s interim accreditation report to the Maine Department of Education and was involved in developing both the collaborative early childhood program with Northern Maine Community College and the University’s recent addition of an AA degree for paraprofessionals in special education.
Nnazor was also very active in and with the education community during his tenure at UMPI.
“From the very beginning, Dr. Nnazor insisted that close collaboration with the local schools was essential to maintaining a strong College of Education at UMPI,” noted David Ouellette, executive director of the Central Aroostook Council on Education (CACE). “He was a firm supporter of CACE and a primary motivator in creating the Professional Development Schools initiative. Dr. Nnazor had an unbelievable work ethic and will be greatly missed by local and state educators.”
“I have appreciated the support of UMPI leadership and faculty during my tenure here,” said Nnazor. “It has been a pleasure to collaborate with colleagues across the university, as well as the CACE leadership, local superintendents, principals and teachers, as we worked together to strive for continuous improvement to UMPI’s teacher education program.”
Sonntag noted that the university has been exploring options for filling the leadership vacancy left by Nnazor’s departure and will have a plan in place before faculty and students return from the holiday break.
Nnazor received his Ph.D. in higher education and his masters in educational administration from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and a bachelor of arts in education/English from the University of Nigeria.
He is founder of the Nnazor Education and Community Development Foundation, a philanthropic organization facilitating literacy, adult education and community development projects in southeastern Nigeria.
