Press_Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WSC APPOINTS VICE PRESIDENTS

President also reorganizes two divisions

(Worcester, MA – June 20, 2003) The Worcester State College Board of Trustees approved President Janelle C. Ashley’s recommendation to appoint David A. Caruso, Ph.D. to serve as the Academic Vice President, the number two administrative post at the College, at their June 17 meeting at Worcester State College. 

Caruso fills the position left by Michael Spitzer, Ph.D., who became provost at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota more than a year ago. Caruso served as the interim vice president after serving as associate vice president for Academic Affairs since August 2001.  Prior to coming to WSC, he was a professor and special assistant to the president at the University of Hartford, as well as dean of the College of Education in Nursing and Health Professions.  His lengthy academic career includes special assistant to the president for Outreach and Planning for the University of Rhode Island, American Council on Education Fellow at California State University, Monterey Bay, and faculty at Purdue University and Indiana State University. 

“We couldn’t be more pleased with David’s appointment,” said Board Chair Gregory O. Hunter ’84. “He has the full confidence of the Board to be an effective leader, diplomat and champion for academic quality. He has an excellent rapport with the faculty and has been leading the president’s strategic planning process this past year.”

In addition, the Board approved President Ashley’s recommendation to reorganize two college divisions, Academic Affairs and Student Development, and to promote Sibyl Brownlee, Ph.D. from dean of Student Development to vice president of Student Affairs.

“Student Development will be renamed Student Affairs, and three offices will be moved from Academic Affairs to Student Affairs,” said Ashley. “By streamlining the Academic Affairs Division, Dr. Caruso will be able to focus on faculty and academic issues. The three offices, Career Services, Disability Services, and Multicultural Affairs, properly belong in the Student Affairs Division. By reinstating the vice president position in Student Affairs and promoting Dr. Sibyl Brownlee to that post, I believe our students will benefit from a stronger Student Affairs Division. To insure that our students receive a fully integrated college experience, these two divisions will now be able to integrate student development and co-curricular programs with  academic goals and programs.  Dr. Brownlee is an outstanding leader who has made the Division of Student Development more effective. She has also spearheaded the new residence hall project. ”

Brownlee, who has served as Dean of Student Development since 2001, came to WSC from Fitchburg State College (FSC) where she served as faculty and chair of the History Department.  While there she had significant involvement and exposure to student life programs in her role as the director of FSC’s Summer Bridge Program.  She also worked for years in the corporate insurance sector in Los Angeles, CA with significant personnel supervision and management responsibility.  She received her B.A. and M.A. in American Studies from California State University, Los Angeles, and her Ph.D. in American History from UMass, Amherst.  She has presented numerous scholarly papers on African American history and issues.

“Dr. Brownlee has made a significant difference in student life already,” said Hunter. “In keeping with our promise to put our students first at Worcester State College, her position as vice president will demonstrate to everyone that we intend to keep that promise.”

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