As the academic dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences, Joan L. Sattler leads the internal and external academic affairs of the College as we prepare leaders within the human service professions. She also provides support for the five centers or partnerships in the College: The Anne H. Griffith Academy for Professional Excellence; The Center for Research and Service; The Counseling Research and Training Clinic; The Institute for Gifted and Talented Youth; and The William T. Kemper Project, which supports Professional Development Schools and the Kemper Academy

Dr. Sattler’s teaching, research, publications, funded grants, and service focus on teacher education, special education, and health education. She serves on several national boards and committees, including the Specialty Area Studies Board (SASB) of the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and on the Quality and Accountability Committee for The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). She also serves on several regional boards, such as the University of Illinois College of Medicine Community Associates Board, the Proctor Foundation Board, the Peoria Sister City Commission, and the Arts Partners Board. Also, she is a founding board member and past president of the Hult Health Education Center.

Teaching is her first love. Recently, she taught an honors seminar entitled Women and Leadership. As part of a joint research project involving another colleague and the class, the students interviewed outstanding women leaders from various professions in the region. Everyone—including Dr. Sattler—learned a lot—and had a very rewarding experience in the process.

The Bradley model is the teacher as scholar. Dean Sattler supports the College faculty teacher-scholars in all ways possible. The College has a variety of professional development activities and funded support and awards for these activities. Dr. Sattler’s family established an endowed faculty award for teaching excellence in her name. It is awarded annually to the outstanding teacher in the College. The College also has annual research and service awards provided annually to outstanding faculty.

Degrees & Certification
She holds a master’s and doctoral degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, in the field of special education with support areas in educational administration and educational psychology. Her bachelor’s degree is from Western Michigan University with double majors in elementary and special education and a minor in music. She holds state of Illinois certifications in administration, elementary education, and special education.