Somer M. Lewis

Somer currently serves as the Assistant Dean for Partnerships & Engagement and as the Director of the Betty Holden Stike Education Lab in the Watson College of Education at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. In her Assistant Dean role, she oversees five units that engage in partnership, outreach, and collaborative activities with schools, industry, and community organizations. Somer works closely with directors to build synergistic relationships to support Watson’s mission in enrollment, academic programming, research, professional development, and partnerships. As Director of the Education Lab, she oversees operations of UNCW’s main campus lab, including the Curriculum Materials Center, as well as the Onslow County extension campus at Coastal Carolina Community College. At each site, Watson students practice instructional methods learned in their education courses, teaching a K-8 child in a supervised 1:1 tutoring setting. Somer has been with UNCW since 2010, serving previously as the PDS School-University Partnership Director, as a Senior Lecturer in Secondary Education and as the Regional Director of the NC New Teacher Support Program.

Education

B.A. in English, Secondary Education, University of North Carolina Wilmington
M.A. in English Literature, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Specialization in Teaching

Instructional Methods in Secondary English Education
Classroom Teacher Leadership, Reflection and Management Practices
Cognitive Coaching

Research Interests

Somer's research interests include online learning for K-12 students, beginning teacher preparation and retention, school-university partnerships and teacher leadership.

Professional Service

UNCW Laboratory School Leadership Team
STEM SENC Advisory Board
Community College Collaborative Advisory Council
UNCW PDS Advisory Board
NASUP Board of Directors
NASUP Communications Committee
NASUP Finance Committee

Community Engagement

Bryce Martin Foundation Member-At-Large
NHCS Title II Committee
Work on Wilmington Volunteer

Honors & Awards

Educators of Color Network 2022-2024, Co-Founder Recognition
2024 National Exemplary PDS Award, National Association of School-University Partnerships
UNCW Division of Student Affairs Student Recognition, UNCW Student Affairs
Advancing PDS-SUP Research: Georgia State University-American Education Research Association Shaping a National Research Agenda- Invited Convening Contributor, AERA-GSU
Robert Tyndall Service Award, UNCW Watson College of Education
2016 Emerald Literati Network Award for Excellence- Outstanding Author Contribution, Emerald Publishing Group Limited
2014 National Exemplary PDS Award, National Association of Professional Development Schools
Outstanding Young Educational Leader Award, Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development