Academic Affairs will streamline its operations under a new Dean structure beginning on January 2, 2023, following the recent appointment of long-time Cabrini faculty Erin McLaughlin, PhD, and Missy Terlecki, PhD, as Associate Deans. McLaughlin will oversee the School of Business, Education, and Professional Studies, while Terlecki will helm the School of Arts and Sciences. The Associate Deans will report to Michelle Filling-Brown, PhD, who was appointed Dean, Academic Affairs, on October 31.
The realignment is another step toward establishing a business model reflective of Cabrini’s institutional strengths, positioning the University for growth in an increasingly competitive market.
“I look forward to working together so that we can move Cabrini forward, deconstruct artificial silos between schools and areas, and collaborate to lead us into a bright future,” said Filling-Brown.
McLaughlin joined the Cabrini Business Department as a faculty member in 2008, where she later was named Chair. She has taught in higher education for over 25 years, having spent a decade on the faculty at Penn State Abington.
“I would like to formulate a culture of transparency and collaboration to ensure meaningful engagement across all departments and Schools,” McLaughlin said. “Students, of course, are at the center of our institution. I hope to foster a high-quality student experience where students can excel in their given fields while shepherding them through the new experiences they will face.”
Terlecki, in her 18th year at Cabrini, has served as Professor of Psychology since 2005. She later became Chair of the Psychology Department in addition to serving as Co-Director of the Nerney Leadership Institute since 2020. She is a “servant leader” who aims to embody the virtues established by the University namesake, Mother Cabrini.
“I want to provide opportunities to women and diverse individuals as much as possible—everybody deserves access to a high quality education,” Terlecki said. “I also want to make sure we’re collaborating across campus in a way that is inclusive of our many talented faculty members.”
Both Associate Deans will look to bolster key academic programs that provide financial solvency while adhering to the Cabrinian Education of the Heart.
“We want to come back to our mission, rebrand what we do well, and grow those programs,” Terlecki said. “We need to grow our programs to be fiscally responsible, but we don’t want to just follow trends.”
The Associate Deans will assume their roles as Deans Beverly Bryde, EdD, Tim Mantz, DBA, and Rick Thompson, PhD, who led the Schools of Education; Business and Professional Studies; and Arts and Sciences, respectively, step down from their positions on December 31, 2022. The University announced a two-school structure on Friday, October 28, which incorporated the School of Education into the School of Business and Professional Studies.
“We need to redesign our academic infrastructure to reflect the current realities of our situation and academic offerings,” Interim President Helen Drinan said on October 28. “We will continue over the next few months to pursue opportunities to optimize faculty workload, class size, and major/minor offerings.”