Meet Rabbi Meir Muller, Associate Dean for Democracy, Education, and Inclusivity

Rabbi Meir Muller, Ph.D. brings a wealth of administrative experience, outstanding teaching and accomplished research to the position of Associate Dean for Democracy, Education and Inclusivity. Muller previously served as an associate professor in the College of Education and as the co-founder of the Cutler Jewish Day School, where he spent 30 years heading the school. 

Muller was recently named Co-Editor of the newly launched Journal of Jewish Early Childhood Education. His broad research interests include countering antisemitism in education and educational inclusivity. His class on the historic alliances between Black and Jewish communties and has expanded this teaching beyond the university and impacted students around the state. 

Recruitment and Retention Programs

The Office of Democracy, Education, and Inclusivity is proud to house the College of Education’s signature student recruitment and retention programs:

• Apple Core Initiative: Launched Fall 2018, The Apple Core Initiative (ACI) seeks to recruit, enroll and retain high school South Carolina students from historically underrepresented populations, and who may also be first-generation college attendees, into teacher education programs at USC. ACI students receive a scholarship for their four years of study. ACI is guided by theoretical and pedagogical perspectives grounded in culturally relevant  teaching and cultural competency. ACI students supports students in gaining a deep understanding of how to teach using culturally responsive strategies in order to bolster their effectiveness with the culturally and linguistically diverse K-12 students they will teach.
  
  
• AACTE Holmes Scholars Program: The AACTE Holmes Scholars Program supports students from historically underrepresented communities who are enrolled in doctoral programs in the College of Education. Students receive financial support for up to 3 years. There is no specific deadline or application for the Holmes Scholars Program. Holmes Scholars are selected during the Ph.D. admissions process by the Department to which they are applying. If selected as a Holmes Scholar, your department will notify ODEI and you will be notified and provided next steps.