Michael J. Froning, Ed.D., will retire as dean of the UAB School of Education, a part of the university's College of Arts and Sciences, effective Feb. 28.

Froning joined UAB in October 1999 to serve as interim dean of the school and was named to the permanent position in December 2000. Prior to coming to UAB he had been director of the Russell Mathematics and Science Center of the Alabama School of Fine Arts since 1991.

"From the very beginning of his time with UAB, Dean Froning has shown a passion for urban education that has translated into forward-looking learning opportunities for our students and practical benefits for the greater Birmingham community," said UAB Provost Eli Capilouto. "Under his leadership over the past decade the School of Education has achieved remarkable success in obtaining grants and in developing innovative partnerships with K-12 both locally and across the state.

"The Center of Urban Education and the Urban Teacher Enhancement Program in particular have developed under his leadership," Capilouto said, "and we thank him for his service not only to today's college students, but to all of the many schoolchildren whose classroom experiences will be the better because of UAB's approach to teaching education."

The UAB School of Education offers programs in early childhood, elementary and high school education, as well as physical and health education, special education, counseling and educational leadership and foundations.  It also trains service professionals in fields outside the K-12 arena. The school offers professional development courses for working teachers and school leaders and has highly regarded doctoral programs in each of its departments.

A 1963 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, Froning earned his master of arts in teaching in mathematics from The Johns Hopkins University in 1964 and his doctorate in mathematics education from the University of Massachusetts in 1990. A veteran educator of high school students and future teachers, he has been a member of the steering committees of the Council of Great City Colleges of Education and the Urban Educator Corps of the Great Cities Universities.

He is past chair of the board of directors of the Alabama Journal of Mathematics and was on the executive committee of the Alabama Council of Teachers of Mathematics. He is a former board member of the National Consortium of Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology and is a charter board member of the recently formed Birmingham Education Foundation. He also was the project director and author of grants funded by the National Science Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education dealing with computers in Alabama schools, minority recruitment and support and encouraging young girls to continue math and science education in high school.

"I am so proud of what our faculty, students and alumni have accomplished," Froning said. "I leave UAB with a deep sense of gratitude for those accomplishments and great confidence that their number will increase in the future."

Arts and Sciences Interim Dean Jean Ann Linney, Ph.D., said she would soon confer with the school about the appointment of an interim education dean.