By Carlo Valladares
Assistant News Editor
The School of Health Professions and Nursing at LIU Post is currently seeking qualified candidates who “can contribute to the diversity and excellence of our academic community,” to serve as the school’s new dean. As reported in the March 5 issue of The Pioneer, Dr. MaryAnn Clark, the former dean, who held the position since September 1, 2010, left the university in February.
Dr. Lori Knapp, the deputy vice president for Academic Affairs, who has been serving as the interim dean since Clark left, commented about the search for her replacement. “A dean should have a vision of where the school should be going. This particular school is placed in an environment where there are many medical centers and there is a tremendous health care delivery system.” Knapp continued, “So it’s important for this dean to have a vision about relationships with the community, the needs of the students, and making sure that students progress successfully.”
The most notable relationships that the school maintains with medical institutions include: North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and New York University Medical Center. Knapp stressed that the dean should have good interpersonal skills, since she or he will have to meet closely with department chairs and the ability to manage multiple projects.
The School of Health Professions and Nursing offers LIU students a wide range of academic health programs. According to
its website, undergraduate and graduate degrees include Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Cytotechnology, Forensic Science, Health Information Management, Medical biology, Nursing (for registered nurses only,) Nutrition, Pre-pharmacy, Pre-respiratory Care, Radiologic Technology, and Social Work.
Clark had previously been an associate provost for academic administration at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, and acting dean and professor at Seton Hall’s School of Graduate Medical Education.
“Her departure coincided with a promising inaugural position in Boston which better aligned with her career goals. We are very thankful for the changes brought to the School of Health Professions and Nursing and wish MaryAnn Clark success in her future ventures,” said Paul Dominguez, the assistant dean of the School Health Professions and Nursing, in regards to Clark’s resignation. Clark is currently a professor and the executive dean of Health Sciences at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Due to Clark’s mid-semester departure, Knapp was appointed acting dean. Knapp explained that all the dean’s duties and responsibilities will be taken up by her. In addition, she will still do her day-to-day operations as Deputy Vice President of Academic Affairs. “As the acting dean, my job is to make sure that all of the academic programs proceed as they should, that students get all that they need from their academic programs, and that the faculty are properly provided with any kind of supervision or oversight that is needed,” she stated.
“Just getting underway,” Knapp responded when asked about the status of the application process. “But again, we already have a number of applicants and once the process starts, it marches along.” A search committee made of administration and faculty members receives the applications. The committee screens all the applicants, and its members make recommendations. Knapp says the university hopes to have a new dean in place by the Fall 2014 semester.
Dominguez stated that the School of Health Professions and Nursing is in the midst of changes. It has submitted revisions and
a proposal for a new program for approval by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). “While these proposals are under consideration at NYSED, we are not permitted to discuss the potential degrees. It is permissible to say that growth in existing departments within the school have been recognized by our President,” Dominguez said. “Dr. Cline is a great supporter of our students encouraging further development in our programs to benefit LIU for years to come.”
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