College Names Glenmont Resident Dr. Dawn Kolakoski as Chair of Teacher Preparation Department

August 21, 2015

Dawn Kolakoski, Ed.D. of Glenmont has been named chairperson for the Teacher Preparation Department at Hudson Valley Community College.

Dr. Kolakoski has taught at the college since 1991. She has a bachelor's and a master's degree in music education and a master's in early childhood education from The College of Saint Rose. Her doctorate in curriculum development and systemic change is from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Since taking over as interim department chair in 2014, Kolakoski has increased community outreach through a series of two-hour early childhood professional development workshops, which are offered through the college's Office of Community and Professional Education. She has also led the department in the development of a new A.A.S. degree and one-year certificate program in Early Childhood Administration, which is planned for Fall 2016.

The Teacher Preparation Department oversees approximately 200 students in three separate academic programs - Early Childhood, Liberal Arts and Sciences: Adolescent Education, and Teaching Assistant.