CENTER
VALLEY, Pa., July 9, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- DeSales University has
named four longtime leaders in higher education to oversee its new
college and school structure.
Following a comprehensive nationwide search, the University has
appointed the following four distinguished individuals:
- Erin McLaughlin, Ph.D., will
serve as interim dean of the College of Arts, Education, and
Humanities.
- Michael Ducey, Ph.D., will serve
as dean of the College of Sciences.
- Leo-Felix Jurado, Ph.D., will
serve as dean of the College of Healthcare Professions.
- Christopher Cocozza, CPA, JD,
will serve as dean of the Kathleen Waterbury and J.B. Reilly School of Business.
"Each one of these leaders has vast experience in higher
education," says Terese Wignot,
Ph.D., provost. "These appointments mark a significant milestone in
our strategic plan, Connecting to Our Future, and will
play a pivotal role in helping us embrace a new era of education
within our revised academic structure."
McLaughlin, interim dean of the College of Arts, Education, and
Humanities, previously served as associate dean for the School of
Business, Education, and Professional Studies at the now closed
Cabrini University in Radnor,
Pennsylvania. In addition to business programs within the
school, she has had oversight of graphic design, fine arts,
communication, education, and leadership programs. Her research and
publication history has been fueled by her passion for economics
and social justice.
Ducey, dean of the College of Sciences, currently serves as
interim dean of the College of Science and Health at Missouri
Western State University in St.
Joseph, Missouri. In that role, he has worked as an
advocate and leader for faculty, staff, and more than 1,200
students across five academic departments. Among previously held
leadership positions, Ducey has served with the Army National Guard
of Arizona, Michigan, and Kansas.
Jurado, dean of the College of Healthcare Professions, is a
founding dean and professor for the College of Health Professions
at the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, with campuses
at Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield. He also
currently serves as executive director of the Philippine Nurses
Association of America and has held leadership roles with the
New Jersey Board of Nursing and
the Philippine Nurses Association of New
Jersey, among other organizations.
Cocozza, dean of the Kathleen Waterbury and J.B. Reilly School of Business, is a professor of
business and division head at DeSales. He has facilitated the
development of several undergraduate majors, as well as the M.S. in
Business Analytics program. He has also helped to foster
relationships with key business leaders, alumni, and government
officials, resulting in the establishment of the Bloesch Student
Investment Fund and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
program.
The new deans will focus on enrollment and retention, enhancing
student and faculty experiences, and reviewing procedures and
processes to promote efficiencies within each unit. McLaughlin,
Ducey, and Cocozza will assume their new roles on August 1. Jurado will begin on September 1.
DeSales University, in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, is a Catholic,
private, coeducational, four-year liberal arts university. Founded
by the Oblates of Saint Francis de
Sales in 1965, the 550-acre suburban campus is located about 50
miles north of Philadelphia and 90
miles southwest of New York City.
A total enrollment of nearly 3,000 includes undergraduate day,
evening, and graduate students. DeSales has approximately 130
full-time faculty members and offers more than 50 bachelor's
degrees and 14 graduate programs in a wide range of
disciplines.
Media Contact: Janelle Hill,
janelle.hill@desales.edu
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SOURCE Desales University