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Doug Palmer, Dean

Douglas J. Palmer was named dean of Texas A&M University's College of Education and Human Development in May 2006. He had served as the college's interim dean for six months and previously was executive associate dean.

Experienced in international education, Palmer is director of a collaborative teacher preparation project in Qatar that is funded by the State of Qatar. This program has been developed and is being implemented by faculty in Texas A&M's College of Education and Human Development with faculty colleagues at The University of Qatar. This program is separate from the engineering-oriented branch campus that Texas A&M opened in the Middle East country two years ago.

"This project is part of a broader Qatar educational reform initiative and has the goal of graduating master teachers who will be prepared to teach Qatari students in Arabic and English to meet international achievement standards," said Palmer. "It is exciting to be working in this important area of the world and to help in the development of quality educational programs for future generations of Qatari children."

Prior to serving as the college's executive associate dean, Palmer was head of the Department of Educational Psychology. He joined the faculty in 1977 and was promoted to professor in 1988 and holds the Sydney and J.L. Huffines '44 Endowed Chair.

He also has experience in the area of education for students with disabilities and served as the director of the Disabled and At-Risk Children and Youth Research Group at Texas A&M from 1991 to 1995. Palmer also served for eight years as coordinator of the special education program in the university's Department of Education Psychology.

Palmer's research, grant and contract activities have brought nearly $19 million toward the preparation and training of leadership personnel in areas such as school psychology, special education, Hispanic children with disabilities and special education for culturally diverse populations.

Palmer received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his B.A. from California State University.