UAB dean named Living Legend in educational leadership and service

Educational leadership and service exemplified by Dean Autumn Tooms Cyprès, who recently received an international award.

CypresJoomlaAutumn Tooms-Cyprès, Ed.D. Autumn Tooms Cyprès, dean of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Education, is the recipient of the International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership 2019 Living Legend award. The Living Legend award recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions to the field of educational administration.

“Dean Cyprès is an innovative and strategic leader,” said UAB Provost Pam Benoit. “We are delighted that she joined the UAB team and that she has received this tremendous honor recognizing her impact in the discipline.” 

Cyprès has served as a program evaluator for school leadership preparation programs and as president of both the University Council for Educational Administration and the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration. Her research has been recognized nationally and can be found in such journals as Educational Administration Quarterly, Educational Leadership and Teacher’s College Record. Her most recent books, which include “Ferocious Resolve: Politics, Courage, and What it’s Like to be a Professor,” examine the politics of leadership within the professoriate. She is a past president of ICPEL and has served on several committees.

Cyprès will be recognized at the ICPEL annual conference July 15. Recipients of the Living Legend award exemplify living a life that inspires others; service to ICPEL as a model of genuine care, ethics and professionalism in service to education; dedication to research, teaching and service to the professions; and significant contributions to the field of educational administration.