UNCG appoints Morgan Chitiyo dean of School of Education

Morgan Chitiyo’s appointment as dean of UNCG’s School of Education puts a new face on one of Greensboro’s most important teacher pipeline engines at a moment when North Carolina still needs more certified teachers, especially in STEM and special education. For Guilford County schools and district partners across the Triad, the question now is whether Chitiyo can turn his record on enrollment, partnerships and student support into a measurable boost in the supply of educators who stay in the field.

UNCG named Chitiyo to the permanent post after a comprehensive national search. His appointment took effect May 1, 2026, after he had served as interim dean since January 2025. Before that, he was professor of special education and chair of the Department of Specialized Education Services, roles he had held since 2020.

That background matters beyond campus. UNCG said Chitiyo spent five years as SES chair supporting enrollment through marketing and district partnerships, work that sits close to the real pressure points in the education workforce: getting more candidates into preparation programs and keeping school systems connected to a steady pipeline of graduates. Chitiyo has said demand for certified teachers is growing, with shortages especially severe in STEM fields and special education in North Carolina.

Provost Alan Boyette said the School of Education plays a vital role in preparing educational professionals, counselors and leaders for communities across North Carolina and beyond, and he credited Chitiyo’s interim leadership with providing stability and forward momentum. The school says it is working to expand its impact through research, partnerships and student support, a mission that now falls to Chitiyo at a time when districts are still struggling to recruit and retain teachers.

Chitiyo’s academic and professional record spans Greensboro, Pittsburgh and Zimbabwe. Before joining UNCG in 2020, he worked at Duquesne University as director of the Special Education Program and chair of the Department of Counseling, Psychology, and Special Education. His research centers on positive behavior supports, autism, inclusive education and special education professional development. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Africa University in Zimbabwe, an MBA and a Ph.D. in exceptional learning with an emphasis in applied behavior analysis from Tennessee Technological University.

The school enters this next chapter with momentum and scrutiny. UNCG recently received the largest gift in its history to support education and rename its School of Education building for Harriet Shain Evenson and Jerome Evenson. It also ranked in a tie for 95th nationally among graduate schools of education in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-26 rankings, while its counseling program climbed to fourth in the country. Chitiyo’s next test is whether that strength can translate into more teachers for Guilford County and the broader Triad.