Andy Saultz took the reins as Dean of the Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling on August 4th, 2025. Saultz arrives at Lewis & Clark after a seven-year tenure at Pacific University, where he was a member of the faculty, directed the PhD program in Education and Leadership, and served as interim dean of the College of Education. As dean, Saultz also joins the Executive Council as a member of the president’s institutional leadership team.
A proud alum of the Graduate School of Education and Counseling, Saultz earned his MAT from Lewis & Clark in secondary social studies. He also holds a BA in Political Science from Oregon State University and a PhD in Educational Policy from Michigan State University.
I am thrilled and humbled to re-join the Lewis & Clark community as dean of the Graduate School of Education and Counseling,” says Saultz. “I am confident that we will implement a smooth transition through regular communication and by affirming our collective and individual values.
Describing himself as an educator and researcher who is passionate about building more equitable systems through public policy and empirical data, Saultz began his career as a high school social studies teacher in a public school in Michigan. Troubled by the racial and socio-economic disparities in educational opportunity, he ran for and was elected to the local school board, soon returning to graduate school to study how to build systems that serve all students.
Saultz succeeds Scott Fletcher, who recently retired after serving as dean of the graduate school for the past 17 years. Janet Bixby, associate dean, also announced her retirement in 2025 after serving alongside Fletcher for his 17 year tenure. Danielle Torres has been selected to fill the role beginning September 2, 2025. Torres is currently serving as Lewis & Clark’s Dean of Equity and Inclusion, and was previously a tenured associate professor in the school counseling program at the graduate school.
“As an alum, I am so thankful for the leadership that Scott and Janet have provided to build the culture in the graduate school,” reflects Saultz. “I recognize that I am joining a community that supports one another and cares deeply for our students. I am looking forward to learning from the expertise and leadership that already exists in our faculty and staff.”
Saultz’s scholarly work addresses a wide range of issues in educational policy, the politics of education, and the intersection of health and education policy. The unifying theme of his scholarship and teaching is using empirical data to improve educational equity. Saultz’s scholarship has been featured in numerous peer-reviewed publications as well as in The Oregonian, The New York Times, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and on National Public Radio. He is also active in the local Portland community, having served on various boards including the Blanchet House Development Committee, Washington County Kids, and the Beaverton Education Foundation.
I am honored to be able to serve the students, staff, and faculty as dean of the Graduate School of Education and Counseling. Education is central to building a more equitable world, and I am humbled to work with such an amazing group of people.
More information about Dean Saultz’s career and the selection process can be found here.
