FAIRFIELD, Conn.—Brian V. Carolan of Park Ridge, N.J., has joined Sacred Heart University as dean of Graduate Studies. In this role, he will offer broader leadership for the graduate programs, both at the master’s and doctoral levels. Among his responsibilities will be helping to determine graduate tuition and enrollment goals, overseeing marketing, recruitment and outreach for graduate programs, conducting market research to identify new programs, certificates and degrees and more.
He will design and implement, in collaboration with the deans of the academic colleges, coordinated undergraduate/graduate degree programs for all majors within each college. He will participate as a standing member of the Dean's Council for the purpose of contributing strategic concepts and assessment for all graduate programs, and he will work with the deans to develop international partnerships for pathways to SHU graduate programs.
Carolan most recently worked at Montclair State University where he was associate dean of The Graduate School and professor of quantitative research methods. He previously taught at Montclair and the College of Staten Island of the City University of New York. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Rutgers, a master’s in sociology from Columbia, an advanced certificate in education administration and supervision from Hunter College of the City University of New York and a doctorate in sociology and education from Columbia.
“With his previous experience developing new graduate curricular initiatives; collecting, analyzing and interpreting data to design programs that fit student needs; and working across organizational units, departments and colleges, Brian will be a great addition as we continue to work to grow our graduate programs,” says Jim Barquinero, senior vice president, Enrollment, Student Affairs & Athletics at SHU.
Carolan says he was attracted to SHU for several reasons. “First, SHU is a growing institution that is eager to expand its national footprint, especially in the area of graduate education. Second, SHU has a deserved reputation for innovation. Its curricula, instructional modes, facilities and faculty reflect a commitment to find better, more effective ways to deliver transformative learning experiences,” he noted. “Finally, while emphasizing both growth and innovation, SHU remains committed to its core values, which personally resonate with my vision of graduate education. In particular, I am eager to collaborate with others in an effort to sustain, develop and nurture graduate programs that provide students with opportunities to contribute to the common good of society, one of SHU’s core values.”
He says his initial priority will be to work with key stakeholders, such as deans, faculty, students and others, to learn more about SHU’s broad portfolio of graduate programs. “In addition, I will actively participate in SHU’s current strategic planning process to ensure that the interests of graduate education are represented. A final priority will be to increase understanding about the value of the graduate education enterprise and generate support for it both internally and externally.”
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About Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University, the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, offers more than 70 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its main campus in Fairfield, Conn., and satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland. More than 8,500 students attend the University’s five colleges: Arts & Sciences; Health Professions; Nursing; the Jack Welch College of Business; and the Isabelle Farrington College of Education. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its guides, Best 382 Colleges–2018 Edition, “Best in the Northeast” and Best 267 Business Schools–2018 Edition. It also placed SHU on its lists for “Best College Theater” and “Most Engaged in Community Service,” each of which comprises only 20 U.S. schools. U.S.News & World Report ranks SHU in its Best Colleges 2018 guidebook and calls SHU the fourth “Most Innovative School” in the North. The Chronicle of Higher Education also names SHU one of the fastest-growing Roman Catholic universities in its 2016 almanac. Sacred Heart fields 32 Division I athletic teams and has an award-winning program of community service. www.sacredheart.edu
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