Professional Background:
As one of the Associate Deans in the Park School I am among a team of dedicated professional educators and administrators devoted to creating our excellent teaching, learning, and development environment. My focus is on curricular and faculty issues, but I also work closely with my colleagues in support of students.
I have worked in higher education most of my career, returning to Ithaca College in 2006 into a new position as Director of Online Learning, and Certificate and Professional Programs. That position became the Associate Dean when the college merged the Division of Graduate Studies with the Division of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions to form Graduate and Professional Studies in 2007. From 2009-2012 I was acting as the Dean of GPS. In 2012 the administration of graduate programs was distributed and the college formed the Office of Extended Studies where in addition to overseeing OES I was responsible for the college's online learning initiatives and strategic plan. In 2015 I returned to the Park School as the Associate Dean.
Prior to my return to IC I was a Senior Consultant with Concept Systems Inc., a consulting firm based in Ithaca, from 2005-2006, which followed 6 years in two Cornell University groups.
In 1998 I was hired as the first Senior Instructional Designer in the newly created Office of Distance Learning at Cornell where I was the architect of several groundbreaking distance learning initiatives. That team became eCornell, a for-profit wholly owned online learning subsidiary of the University, in 2000 where I was initially the Director of Faculty Development and later the Director of Academic Programs and part of the Program Management Team's senior leadership.
From 1996-1998 I was the Director of the Educational Technology Center at Burlington County College where I taught BCC's first online course - Internet Literacy.
In 1996 I left Ithaca College after 12 years teaching in the Roy H. Park School of Communications. The first 6 years as a Lecturer in the TV-R Department, and from 1990-96 as an Instructor in the Corporate Communications Department (now Strategic Communication) teaching video and interactive multimedia courses. I was also an adjunct at TC3 and Empire State College.
During these years I was also the Project Manager for OmniCom Associates, an internationally recognized training and communications consulting group based in Ithaca.
I earned my Bachelors degree in Communications Management in 1982 and my Masters in Educational Communications in 1985, both from Ithaca College.
Community Interests:
From 2016-2023 I served two terms on the City of Ithaca Common Council, being reelected in 2019. I represented the Third Ward of the City which includes the Belle Sherman and Bryant Park neighborhoods, along with the North Campus area of Cornell University. Area residents who live, work, shop, or just commute through the City should sign up for Swift911 notifications.
I have also served many local nonprofit organizations, including 10 years on the Board of Directors for Ithaca's premier performance venue, the historic State Theatre of Ithaca. Hope to see you at the State soon!