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Professor Pitts joined Lehman College in 2007 and has made significant contributions to the Department of Middle and High School Education (MHSE), where he is also a Professor. He earned his Ph.D. in Urban Education with a specialization in science education from the CUNY Graduate Center. In addition, he is a distinguished graduate of the Association of American College and Universities Project Kaleidoscope STEM Leadership Institute.
Throughout his time at Lehman, Professor Pitts has held various leadership roles, including serving as the Chair of MHSE and Co-coordinator of the Secondary Science Education Program. He holds a second appointment in the Ph.D. Program in the Urban Education Department at the CUNY Graduate Center. Currently, he is the Principal Investigator (PI) for the NSF Noyce-Framework on the Continuum that Unifies and Strengthens STEM (Focus-On-STEM) and leads Lehman's project on CUNY's Computer Integrated Teacher Education initiative.
Professor Pitts's research focuses on cultural sociology frameworks to investigate how experiences in urban secondary and post-secondary science classrooms, along with science teacher preparation programs, foster success in science education. Before transitioning to higher education, he taught chemistry at the secondary level in New York City.
As Interim Dean, Professor Pitts is eager to collaborate with chairs and faculty to enhance the School of Education, ensuring it continues to be a vibrant place for students to receive an outstanding education and grow. His extensive experience at Lehman has equipped him well for this role. He has been a key member of the Lehman College Senate and the Senate’s Budget Committee, served as Faculty Advisor to the STEP Program, and coordinated various STEM teacher education programs, including the Science Education Program and Computer Science Teacher Education. Additionally, he was the Co-PI for the Lehman Urban Transformative Education Teacher Opportunity Corps (TOC) II Grant and the PI of the TRIO Student Support Services Careers in Teaching initiative.
Professor Pitts's research agenda continues to explore the multiple dimensions of science education, focusing on the impact of diversity in urban science teaching and learning practices. His goal is to support both students and teachers in urban schools, contributing significantly to the understanding of science education. He emphasizes the use of ePortfolios by in- and pre-service science teachers to make their learning and competencies visible, intersecting integrative social pedagogy and reflective practice.
As an editor of the Science Learning section in the International Handbook of Research on Multicultural Science Education and a contributor to various prestigious journals, including the Cultural Studies of Science Education, the Journal of College Science Teaching, and the International Journal of ePortfolio, Professor Pitts has a robust scholarly presence. He has also served on review panels for NSF and the Science Education journal.
Professor Pitts values the importance of teaching science, math, and technology as foundational elements for a well-rounded education. He is proud to be part of an institution dedicated to serving its students and is committed to advancing the mission of the School of Education and Lehman College.
Please join us in warmly welcoming Professor Wesley Pitts to his new role as Dean. His comprehensive institutional knowledge and dedication to Lehman will undoubtedly propel the School of Education forward.
Jorge Silva-Puras, J.D., MBA
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
and Student Success
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