Kirby, Elizabeth

Biography

Dr. Elizabeth Kirby is the Coordinator for Northern Michigan Outreach and Engagement, where she brings faculty, staff and students together with Northern Michigan stakeholders to accelerate and advance innovative ideas, academic programs, and the expansion and growth of non-credit offerings.

Dr. Kirby has been at Central Michigan University since 2004, and during her tenure, she has served in faculty and administrative positions.  Kirby was the Interim Dean of the College of the Arts and Media (2020-22) and served in numerous administrative roles in the College of Education and Human Services (2004-2020), including Dean, Interim Dean, Acting Dean, Senior Associate Dean, Associate Dean, and Director of Professional Education. In these roles, she regularly collaborated in various committees with representatives in the Michigan Department of Education, served as a member of the Michigan Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest Alliance to Improve Teacher Preparation, and held leadership roles as president of the Michigan Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (MACTE) and executive board member for the Michigan Council for Deans of Colleges of Education.  She also co-authored and received a $5 million dollar grant from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation for ‘Maximizing STEM Teaching and Learning in the Middle Years.’ Collectively, Dr. Kirby has over 30 years of experience in PK-12 and higher education teaching and administration.