Meet Malcolm Butler: Dean of the Cato College of Education
Malcolm Butler, dean of the Cato College of Education, is an experienced administrator, researcher and mentor who is furthering the college’s goal to be a leader in educational equity through excellence and engagement. He joined UNC Charlotte as dean in January 2022. Previously, he served as professor, director of the School of Teacher Education and coordinator of the Ph.D. program in science education in the College of Community Innovation and Education at the University of Central Florida.
Get to know Butler better through the questions below, asked by Claire Ravin, a junior at Tulane University who interned in UNC Charlotte’s Office of University Communications during the summer.
What attracted you to Charlotte?
The four seasons. Having lived in Orlando for 10 years before moving to Charlotte, I truly appreciate the change in seasons that Charlotte offers. More specifically to the University, the people, the mission and the vision of the institution resonate with me.
What do you love most about UNC Charlotte?
A collaborative spirit permeates everything you do at UNC Charlotte. More specifically, everyone associated with the University works together. Everyone has responsibilities, but there is a constant sense of team effort; you are never left alone to do the work.
What three words do you believe best define your leadership style?
This is a tough question. I would start by saying passionate. We have to believe in the work we do and be confident. I am passionate about the work that I do at UNC Charlotte. Another word would be intentional. I speak from both my head and heart to make decisions and interact with people in a manner that is authentic and sincere. Finally, I would say I am a servant leader; I try to work on behalf of my colleagues.
What’s the best piece of professional or personal advice you have received?
I have been fortunate to have a variety of great mentors throughout my life. However, one piece of advice that resonated with me is, “Remember that relationships matter.” Although this may seem generic, I have seen it play out every day. For us to accomplish any work, we must consider how we interact with one another. Engaging at different levels and building relationships are essential to getting work done.
As for the best personal advice I have ever received, I refer to this as “Mamayisms” — pieces of wisdom my mom has shared with me that I use daily. The first is, “It takes all kinds of people to make up the world, and we are all here.” No matter who we encounter throughout our lifetime, we are meant to be here and part of it. I emphasize the collective “we” rather than “they.” We are here, not “they” are. The second quote would be, “You can disagree without being disagreeable.” In a University setting, where diverse ideas constantly flow in, disagreements are inevitable. You can disagree with someone but do so respectfully.
You are headed to a deserted island. You can take one food, one drink, one book, one song and one movie. What are they, and why?
I grew up in Louisiana, where food is unbeatable, so having to narrow down to one specific food is too hard for me. However, if I had to choose a type of food, I would say Creole, anything, rice, beans, gumbo, jambalaya and so on. For a drink, it’s water. Simply because of hydration, and I enjoy water. I would take the Bible for guidance and motivation. I love music. My son plays jazz, and my wife is a beautiful singer. I do not play any instruments, but I am a big music consumer. If I had to pick one song, I would choose “No Messin’” by Acoustic Alchemy. I have great memories tied to this song, and it is an overall happy song. Years ago, my son gifted me a shirt with a Spotify logo that could play a song. It was “No Messin’,” because we used to listen to it together. “The Book of Eli” is just a great movie.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Is there such a thing as free time? If I have free time, I love to watch all kinds of sports. Being from Louisiana, I am a huge Saints fan, a “Who Dat” all the way. When the Carolina Panthers have 17 games in a season, I will root for them in 15, because the Saints will always be my team. Outside of watching sports, I love playing sports, specifically basketball. I also enjoy walking, spending time with family near and far and listening to live music, mainly jazz. Additionally, I volunteer. I am a part of several boards to which I volunteer my time.