Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development

Every day, the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development lives out Sacred Heart University’s mission of service to others. We prepare the educators and human development professionals steeped in the Pioneer Spirit who are so needed in Connecticut and across the nation.

Over the last five years, the College has undergone a renaissance that has seen every single academic program completely reimagined, reinvigorated and aligned with the latest best practices. We have also added important new programs, such as our Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, which was designed to address the critical nationwide shortage of counselors. Our one-of-a-kind Ed.D. in Educational Leadership allows graduates to attain the highest level of education in their field, preparing them with the social and emotional learning (SEL) skills to comprehensively lead organizations from a whole child perspective. Meanwhile, our online Master of Arts in School Counseling program launched in 2023 with twice as many specific school counseling courses as most such programs offer.

Working with national partner organizations, we have redesigned our teacher preparation program, including building the Farrington Fellows Scholarship Program. Teacher residents spend a full year immersed in a classroom alongside a mentor teacher and promise to teach in the school district after graduation.

Help Open a Pipeline of New Educators & Professionals

Now is the time to build on this impact and invest in our students, faculty, programs and initiatives to move the College forward as a leader in preparing new generations of educators who will teach tomorrow’s workforce. Your commitment through Now We Lead will:

Grow endowed scholarships

Endowed scholarships are especially valuable because they create resources that benefit not just one student, but generations of students over time. Scholarships ensure that the College can fulfill SHU’s commitment to enrolling first-generation college students and diversifying the education workforce. Philanthropy can also support stipends for professionals who must step away from their salaried jobs while they complete clinical components of advanced degrees that are part of their lifelong Pioneer Journey.

Support talented faculty

Endowed professorships and chairs can empower the College to attract and retain top teacher-scholars, but we lag far behind peer institutions in this area. In fact, the new Isabelle Farrington Endowed Chair of Social, Emotional & Academic Leadership is the first endowed chair in the University’s history. Your investment through this campaign can help bring talented faculty to the College and support their ongoing research and teaching.

Advance first-rate academic programs

Your support will help create and support signature programs that prepare educators to meet a range of needs in our schools. These include our first doctoral program in educational leadership and potential new centers of academic excellence that could target rising areas of concern.

Facts & Statistics

2.5K+ Individuals have been certified through SHU to serve as Intermediate Administrators over the part 15 years

75 Professionals have been prepared to be Superintendents since our Superintendent of Schools program began in 2018. At least 10 are currently serving in that role in Connecticut.

62 Candidates have studied in the Ed.D. program since it began in 2019. In May 2022, we awarded 14 doctoral degrees to the first cohort.

For more information, contact:

Paul J. Sutera
Senior Vice President of University Advancement
203-396-8086
suterap@sacredheart.edu