James E. McLean

James E. McLean is an American academic administrator and educational researcher. He served as dean of the College of Education at the University of Alabama from 2004 until his retirement in 2013, and holds the titles of Dean Emeritus and University Research Professor Emeritus at the university.

Early life and education McLean earned a bachelor's degree in secondary mathematics education, a master's degree in statistics, and a doctorate in research foundations of education, with a minor in statistics, all from the University of Florida. He has since been designated professor emeritus at UAB.

From 2000 to 2004 he held the James H. Quillen Chair of Excellence in Education at East Tennessee State University. After retiring as dean, he continued to serve part-time as associate vice president for community affairs and executive director of the university's Center for Community-Based Partnerships. In 1995 he wrote Improving Education Through Action Research: A Guide for Administrators and Teachers, and in 1996 he co-authored the book Why We Assess Students -- And How: The Competing Measures of Student Performance with Robert E. Lockwood.

Publications