A person’s growth is shaped by many people along the way. A educator who sparks curiosity. A counselor who helps navigate a difficult moment. A coach who builds confidence and resilience. A mentor who helps someone discover a sense of purpose. A student affairs professional who creates a sense of belonging during a time of transition. 

Different roles. Different settings. A shared goal: helping people learn, grow, and reach their potential. 

At Butler University, preparing professionals for that work has long been the mission of the College of Education. Beginning June 1, that mission will continue under a new name: the College of Education and Human Development. 

The change reflects a simple truth: education has never been confined to a classroom. 

For generations, Butler graduates have helped shape lives as educators, principals, school leaders, and educational advocates. Today, they are also serving as counselors, coaches, wellness professionals, student affairs leaders, and community advocates—professionals whose work centers on helping others thrive at every stage of life. 

The new name recognizes both the College’s history and its future. 

“Education hasn’t become less important—it has become more expansive,” said Dr. Brooke Kandel, Dean of the College. “At its core, our work is about human potential. We have a deeper understanding today of the factors that influence learning, development, and success. Whether our graduates are teaching in classrooms, counseling individuals and families, supporting college students, or promoting health and wellness, they are helping others learn, grow, and discover what is possible. That’s the opportunity we see reflected in the College of Education and Human Development.” 

That vision has shaped the College’s evolution in recent years. 

As schools, communities, and employers face growing challenges related to student success, mental health, workforce development, and well-being, the demand for professionals who understand human growth and development continues to increase. 

Human development takes many forms. 

It happens in classrooms, where future educators learn how to inspire curiosity and foster learning. 

It happens in counseling sessions, where professionals help individuals navigate challenges and build resilience. For years, Butler’s Master of Science in School Counseling program has prepared professionals to support students during some of the most formative years of their lives. Building on that foundation, Butler’s Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling program was developed in response to a growing need for mental health professionals across Indiana, helping prepare counselors who can support individuals and families in communities where access to care remains a challenge. 

It happens in laboratories and performance spaces. Through Butler’s Kinesiology program, students study the science of human movement, health, and performance while gaining hands-on experience in the Human Performance Lab, preparing for careers that promote wellness and lifelong well-being. 

And it happens on college campuses. Beginning this fall, Butler’s new Master of Science in Higher Education and Student Affairs program will prepare professionals who help students navigate one of the most transformative periods of their lives, creating environments where they feel supported, connected, and empowered to succeed. 

Different professions. Different settings. A shared commitment to helping people thrive. 

Consider a student entering college for the first time. 

Their success may be influenced by a educator who inspired them years earlier. It may depend on a counselor who helped them overcome a challenge, a coach who taught perseverance, or a student affairs professional who helped them find community and confidence during their first semester. 

Growth rarely happens in isolation. 

It is shaped by relationships, experiences, and the people who invest in others along the way. 

That understanding sits at the heart of human development—and increasingly, at the heart of the College’s work. 

“The challenges facing communities today require professionals who understand how people learn, develop, and flourish across every stage of life,” Kandel said. “We want our graduates to be prepared not only to educate, but to mentor, support, advocate for, and empower others. That’s the thread that connects everything we do.” 

That commitment extends beyond the classroom and into the College’s research and community partnerships. Faculty members are exploring questions related to leadership, learning, performance, and well-being in settings that range from local schools to international sport organizations. Whether working with future educators, student affairs professionals, counselors, or coaches, the goal remains the same: understanding how people grow and how individuals and institutions can help them succeed. 

Students gain hands-on experience in schools, counseling settings, community organizations, wellness environments, and research laboratories. Across disciplines, they are encouraged to connect theory with practice and develop the skills needed to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. 

Provost Jay Howard sees the transition as a natural reflection of Butler’s broader educational philosophy.

“One of Butler’s defining strengths is our commitment to educating the whole person,” Howard said. “The College of Education and Human Development reflects that philosophy. It recognizes that learning and development happen throughout life and that our graduates play an important role in helping others navigate that journey.”

For Kandel, the future of the College is defined by possibility. 

“What excites me most is the impact our graduates will have,” Kandel said. “The world needs professionals who can help others learn, adapt, grow, and thrive through change. Whether they are teaching in schools, supporting mental health, promoting wellness, or helping students find their path, our graduates will be shaping lives and strengthening communities. That’s a future worth investing in.” 

While the name on the College will change on June 1, its mission will not. 

For generations, Butler has prepared educators who help others discover their potential. The College of Education and Human Development broadens that mission, recognizing that learning, growth, and transformation happen throughout our lives and in places far beyond a classroom. 

The people who shape our lives may have different titles—educator, counselor, coach, student affairs professional, wellness leader—but they share a common purpose. 

Helping people learn. 

Helping people grow. 

Helping people thrive.