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The New York State American Council on Education Women's Network

ACE Women’s Network National Executive Board Liaisons: Dr. Margaret Drugovich, President, Hartwick College Dr. Concetta Stewart, Provost, Mercy College Deborah McCreery, J.D., Vice President for Advancement, Albright College NYS ACEWN Executive Board: Dr. Judith Tabron, State Chair (Hofstra University) Dr. Kathy Merget, Associate State Chair (The Culinary Institute of America) Dr. Patricia Burlaud, Past State Chair (New York Institute of Technology) Karen Zuill, Treasurer (Hartwick College) Patricia M. Chute, Secretary (New York Institute of Technology) Nereida Quiles, Public Relations Officer (Concordia College-NY) Christine Chan, Information Officer (Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology) Capital Northern Regional Coordinator: Dr. Gretchel Hathaway, Union College Central Regional Coordinator: Patricia Zimmer, Finger Lakes Community College –SUNY Mid Hudson Valley Regional Coordinator: Marta Newkirk, Dutchess Community College-SUNY NYC/Long Island Regional Coordinator: Althea Forde, Lehman College-CUNY Westchester/Rockland Regional Coordinator: Sarah Fowler-Rogers, Westchester Community College-SUNY Western Regional Coordinator: Dr. Tara Jabbaar-Gyambrah, University at Buffalo-SUNY

A special thank you to those who helped plan the 2016 NYS ACE Women’s Network Conference:

Dr. Judith Tabron, Hofstra University Dr. Martha Asselin, Schenectady County Community College-SUNY Dr. Kathy Merget, The Culinary Institute of America Nereida Quiles, Concordia College-NY Dr. Patricia Burlaud, New York Institute of Technology NEW YORK STATE ACE WOMEN'S NETWORK (NYS ACEWN) 501 (c)(3) www.NYSACENET.org

Mission: To promote and support women leading in higher education in New York State

2016 New York State

American Council on Education Women’s Network Annual Conference

Host: Schenectady County Community College

June 23-24, 2016

SUCCESS:

permission not necessary

NEW YORK STATE ACE WOMEN'S NETWORK (NYS ACEWN) 501 (c)(3) www.NYSACENET.org

Mission: To promote and support women leading in higher education in New York State

2

nyacenet.org

The New York State chapter of the ACE Women’s Network is an informal network of women administrators, faculty, and others associated with or supportive of higher education in New York State. Formed under the auspices of the Office of Women in Higher Education (OWHE) of the American Council on Education (ACE) in 1977, the New York State chapter is part of the ACE Women’s Network, a national network organized by states and headed by coordinating committees within each state. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE N.Y.S. ACE WOMEN’S NETWORK? The New York State Women’s Network seeks: ∎ to develop and promote the advancement of women in high education in New York State ∎ to increase the number, visibility, and influence of women in leadership roles in higher education ∎ to establish linkages among and between women and trustees, legislators, policy makers, search firms, and other organizations. ∎ to develop an agenda of policy issues affecting women in higher education ∎ to support, encourage, and strengthen the state and regional associations HOW CAN I GET MORE INVOLVED IN THE N.Y.S. ACE WOMEN’S NETWORK? ∎ All contact details at www.nyacenet.org INSTITUTIONAL REPRESENTATIVES—This person represents and serves as an advocate for women’s leadership development at her institution. The institutional representative serves as a liaison between the women of her institution and the N.Y.S. ACE Women’s Network Executive Board.

23

2015 New York State ACE Women’s Network Annual Conference

22

Notes

3

Catalyst Award The Catalyst Award recognizes an outstanding woman leader in the field of higher education. The criteria of the award includes: A woman educator/leader who:

Exemplifies the mission of the American Council on Education Women’s Network (see below); o To develop and promote the advancement of women in high education in New York State o To increase the number, visibility, and influence of women in leadership roles in higher

education o To establish linkages among and between women and trustees, legislators, policy makers,

search firms, and other organizations o To develop an agenda of policy issues affecting women in higher education o To support, encourage, and strengthen the state and regional associations

Dedicates herself to higher education by serving her students, colleagues, and institution generously; Demonstrates a personal commitment to professional growth and enrichment; Unselfishly gives of her time and energy in assisting other women in their professional development

as a mentor and role model; and Advances and promotes higher education through collaborative efforts across disciplines in

academics, government and business communities

Catalyst Award Winner

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2016 New York State ACE Women’s Network Annual Conference

Schenectady County Community College

SUCCESS: permission not necessary

Thursday, June 23, 2016

9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Arrival/Breakfast (Lally-Mohawk Room, Elston Hall) 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. NYS ACEWN Executive Board Meeting (Lally-Mohawk Room, Elston Hall) Board Members Only 3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Conference Registration Opens (Outside Van Curler Room, Elston Hall) 4:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Regional Coordinators Meeting (Lally-Mohwak Room, Elston Hall) 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Conference Registration Continues (Outside Van Curler Room, Elston Hall) 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Dinner - Dine Around Schenectady (On Your Own)

Check out the interactive website:

http://downtownschenectady.org/explore/

21

Notes

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Notes

5

Friday, June 24, 2016

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast, Registration and Networking (Van Curler Room, Elston Hall)

9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. New York State ACE Women’s Network Welcome Martha Asselin, Ph.D., Vice President of Student Affairs Schenectady County Community College (Van Curler Room, Elston Hall) New York State Associate Chair’s Welcome Kathy Merget, Ph. D., Associate Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs, The Culinary Institute of America 9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. “Moving the Needle” and Our Relationship to the ACE Women’s Network National Organization Judith Tabron, Ph.D., New York State Chair Director of Faculty and Student Computing, Hofstra University 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Networking Break (Van Curler Room, Elston Hall) 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Keynote Speaker – Sarah Angel Johnson

Moving the Needle: Leading by Influence Chief PMO Executive (Interim) & Chief Alumnae Officer Girl Scouts of America

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Panel of Presidents Dr. Marion Terenzio, SUNY Cobleskill Dr. Sharon DeVivo, Vaughn College of Aeronautics Dr. Martha Asselin, past interim president of Schenectady County Community College 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch, Catalyst Award, and Presentation Embracing Your Recipe For Health Dr. Kathy Merget (Van Curler Room, Elston Hall) 1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Stretch Break

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Friday, June 24, 2016 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Presidential mentoring, 15-minute sessions

2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Afternoon Networking Session “The Elevator Speech” What is it, how to create one, and why it is important. Interactive workshop. Presenter: Nereida Quiles, M.S. Public Relations Officer, NYS ACE WN Director of Admission for Adult Education Accelerated Degree Program Concordia College-NY

2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Networking Break (Van Curler Room, Elston Hall) 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions Breakout Session 1: Lally-Mohawk Room, Elston Hall “Negotiation for Beginners”. Everything in life, certainly everything in

our work lives, is negotiation!

Presenter: Dr. Marianna Savoca

Director of the Career Center, Stony Brook University

Breakout Session 2: Activity Forum, Elston Hall “What is Fundraising?” And how does it fit in with our passions and our strengths? Presenter: Patricia Clemency, CEO Make-a-Wish Foundation, Metro & Western NY

Breakout Session 3: “Ph.D? Ed.D? Me?” What degree is right for your career goals? What degree is right for you? Presenter: Dr. Cathy Sweet Assessment Coordinator for the School of Arts and Sciences, St. John Fisher College

4:10 p.m. Closing Remarks (Van Curler Room, Elston Hall)

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Notes

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Marion Terenzio, Ph.D.

Dr. Marion Terenzio became the 12th president of the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill on July 1, 2015. Prior to this

appointment, she was vice president for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at

Bloomfield College in New Jersey and professor at The Sage Colleges in New York where she also served as vice president for campus life.

Dr. Terenzio received an A.B. in music from Vassar College, a M.A. in music therapy from Texas Women’s University, a M.A. in Community Psychology from The Sage Colleges and a Ph.D. in Community Psychology from Michigan State University.

Dr. Terenzio has numerous awards for her work emphasizing the critical role of higher education as a partner and economic driver in communities. As president of the Bloomfield Center Alliance, Terenzio led the successful downtown revitalization plan,

enhancing the town-gown relationship. She was instrumental in establishing an arts-based urban sustainability program for impoverished children in Newark and co-founded an alternative high school on campus.

Under her leadership, Bloomfield College became a nationally recognized minority serving institution, where she and faculty reimagined the preparation necessary to suc-ceed in college coursework, including ending separate

remedial programs and emphasizing academic coaching and imbedded tutoring.

Dr. Terenzio has served on national, regional and state association boards, councils and task forces, and presented and published on the effective role of the arts in

community well-being and economic revitalization.

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Breakout Sessions and Activities Details

Negotiation

Dr. Marianna Savoca, Director of the Career Center, Stony Brook University - SUNY

Dr. Savoca will speak on negotiation - and everything in life, certainly everything in our work lives, is negotiation! Her standing-room-only talk at the Women's Leadership Symposium at Stony Brook in March was a big hit - take this opportunity to speak with her and network with her in a group setting!

Fundraising

Patricia Clemency, CEO, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Metro New York & Western New York

You know your career path will involve working with fundraising, whether your goal is to be a chair, dean, director, vice-president, provost or president. But what is fundraising? And how does it fit in with our passions and our strengths? Ms. Clemency will speak on taking the fear out of fundraising and give us all a handle on the skillset most of us need most to further our careers!

Career Pathways

Dr. Cathy Sweet, Assessment Coordinator for the School of Arts and Sciences, St. John Fisher College

Dr. Sweet will discuss when, how and why you may want to pursue an advanced degree on the doctoral level. Why get a doctoral degree? How does this impact your career choices? Topics of discussion include: Doctoral degrees 101: differences between PhD and EdD; selecting an institution, online versus face-to-face, full time versus part time, basic components of a doctoral program (from portfolio reviews, comprehensive exams and the defense), financial aid, grants. Life Changes/Life Chances - how the

process impacts you and your family. Value yourself, not the degree. Advice for women and how can we support each other. In other words, many of the things to consider when starting to look at

programs.

Communicating with Purpose

Nereida Quiles, M.S. . Public Relations Officer, NYS ACE WN, Director of Admission for Adult Education

Accelerated Degree Program, Concordia College-NY

“The Elevator Speech” What is it, how to create one, and why it is important. Interactive workshop

8

Margaret L. Drugovich, Ph.D.

Dr. Margaret Drugovich is a scholar-practitioner who believes that productive organizational change can happen even in the most highly legitimized environments.

She has presented her research on transformational leadership and consensus making

structures in higher education at annual international meetings of the Academy of

Management, the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action, the Lawlor Group’s Summer Seminar, the American Association of Colleges and Universities, and the North American Council for Staff, Program and Organizational

Development.

Dr. Margaret Drugovich earned a Doctor of Management degree from the

Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, where she also served as a Fellow of the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations. She received her master's degree from Brown University, and her bachelor of arts degree from Albertus Magnus College.

Dr. Margaret Drugovich assumed her role as the President of Hartwick College in July of 2008, after serving in various senior administrative and research roles at Ohio Wesleyan University, Bryant University, and the Brown University Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research. She has served on various non-profit boards and community organizations, including the Alumni Advisory Council for the Doctor of Management

Program at Case Western Reserve University, and the Board of Trustees of the New York Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities.

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Judith Tabron, Ph.D.

Judith Tabron, Ph.D., is the Director of the departments of Student and Faculty Computing Services at Hofstra University. SCS & FCS are service-oriented departments providing support for everyone at Hofstra’s eight colleges who uses technology for teaching or learning.

She has presented at national meetings on the departments’ accomplishments in streamlining deployment, project management, and aligning IT expenditures and practices with the academic needs of the university. She has led the University to develop high-satisfaction, cost-effective: technology classrooms, distance learning courses, programs, including full degrees and student services including collaborative learning space, innovative support, and standardized reliable printing and break/fix service.

Dr. Tabron has 20 years’ progressively responsible experience in academic technology, dating from early days using BITNet, troubleshooting Windows 3.0 and Mac OS 7, and teaching classes in VMS (which remains her favorite operating system). She built the Center for Instructional Multimedia and Technology (CIMTech) at Brandeis University and administered its grants to deliver 18 faculty development projects over three years, on time and on budget. Since then she has been involved in a number of grant-funded projects to improve classroom facilities at Hofstra, and wrote the technical section of the largest grant Hofstra has received to date from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Dr. Tabron leads Hofstra’s faculty development efforts regarding teaching with technology, introduced ITIL service frameworks to Hofstra’s IT organization, and educates faculty and students about cybersecurity and cybercrime.

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Catherine Sweet, Ph.D.

Dr. Cathy Sweet is the Assessment Coordinator for the School of Arts and Sciences, overseeing the assessment of the general education core, First Year Program, and 27 academic programs.

Prior to this position, she was on the faculty at Nazareth College and taught at the undergraduate and graduate level as well as assisting with the program-level

assessments. Dr. Sweet's interest in assessment grew out of her research into cognitive theory and student learning while a doctoral student at the University of Rochester and continues her "assessment as research" philosophy at Fisher.

Trained in both qualitative and quantitative research, Dr. Sweet uses her

background in teaching and curriculum to support the faculty's pedagogical research and has co-authored a new article out this summer in the peer-reviewed journal, IJeP (International Journal of ePortfolios) "The Use of ePortfolios to Support Metacognitive Practice in a First- Year Writing Program."

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Sarah Angel-Johnson, M.B.A.

Originally from Honolulu, Sarah Angel-Johnson moved to New York after she was hired by IBM in 1997 as a software engineer. She has since become known as an innova-tive executive with expertise in leading rapid global transformation for multinational or-ganizations. She excels in new product introduction, sales enablement, customer tech-nical support, user experience, quality assurance, and talent development.

In 2014, Angel-Johnson joined Girl Scouts of the USA, leading the team bringing the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program into the digital realm. In her role as chief Digital Cookie executive, she has been at the helm of the Digital Cookie initiative, guiding the ef-fort to build a cohesive, national platform where girls can sell and market cookies online for the first time in Girl Scout history. Indeed, Digital Cookie is modernizing the way 2 million girls learn the traditional skills offered by the cookie program, adding a digital layer that is teaching vital twenty-first-century skills to today’s girls.

In addition to her career, Sarah is passionate about giving back to the community and was honored with a US Congressional Award for her work with youth. She has served on multiple boards of directors, including two Girl Scout councils. She is also an active entrepreneur, owning a performing arts coffeehouse, founding a nonprofit for starting professionals, and establishing a salsa dance studio after retiring from being a professional salsa dancer. Additionally, she teaches organizational behavior at various colleges.

Angel-Johnson holds a BS in electronic media arts and communications (web de-velopment) from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a graduate certificate in information technology from Rochester Institute of Technology, and an MBA from Cornell University.

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Martha Asselin, Ph.D.

Martha Jo Asselin, Ph.D. has proudly served Schenectady County Community College for over 26 years and is currently the Vice President of Student Affairs at the College. Dr. Asselin has over 35 years of professional experience in higher education. She has had a diverse career with progressive increases in

position and level of responsibilities (to include a 17-month period in 2014-2015 when she served as the Acting President of Schenectady County Community College).

Dr. Asselin has been instrumental in securing various grants for Schenectady County Community

College, most notably was the Gate’s Foundation Grant in collaboration with Schenectady City Schools to open the Schenectady Smart Scholars Early College High School, serving 500 students in Schenectady High School in grades 9th through 12th. Dr. Asselin has been appointed by the SUNY Chancellor to serve on various working groups for policy design and strategic planning to include: the SUNY Work Group for Developing System Policies for Sexual Violence; the SUNY Work Group for Development of Practices and Protocols for

Addressing Ebola; and various SUNY Chancellor’s Task Forces on Social Media Responsibility, Addressing Mental Health at College Campuses, and on Admissions of Persons with Prior Felony Convictions.

Dr. Asselin is recognized as a Woman of the Year 2015 by the Schenectady Business Professional Women’s Club, the 2014 Recognized Alumni of Distinction by Schalmont High School in Schenectady,

a recipient of the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service (1994) and the Good News Award from the Schenectady Chamber of Commerce (2010), the YWCA of

Schenectady as a Woman of Achievement (2011), and the SUNY Student Affairs and Special Programs Award (2008). In addition, Dr. Asselin is a graduate of various leadership programs to include: the SUNY and

Isaacson Miller Executive Leadership Academy (June 2015), the year-long Schenectady Leadership

Development Program through Union Graduate College (2012) and the weeklong SUNY Leadership Institute (2012).

Dr. Asselin is active in her profession through professional affiliations and memberships, her campus through committee memberships and activities, and her community through her board work. She is a

member of the American Council on Education Women’s Network, SUNY Community College Chief Student Affairs Officers Association, SUNY Council on Assessment Advisory Board, SUNY Campus Safety Advisory Board and more. She has served as a mentor for women through the American Council on Education of

NENY and for the Albany Business Review’s Women Mentorship Program.

Dr. Asselin holds a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and Sociology from SUNY-Oswego, a Master’s of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration and Policy Studies from the University at Albany. In 2012, Dr. Asselin published her dissertation, Utilizing Social Networks in Times of Crisis:

Understanding, Exploring and Analyzing Critical Incident Management at Institutions of Higher Education.

Growing up in Schenectady County, Dr. Asselin’s parents, Gaetano and Arlene Cincotta, continue to reside in Rotterdam, NY. Dr. Asselin and Edward, her husband of 25 years, live in Glenville, NY with their two sons, Ryan and Daniel.

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Marianna Savoca, M.S.

With a background in development/alumni relations, Marianna came to Stony Brook in 1997 and has held the director post since 2000. She is an experienced speaker, has held leadership roles in several career development organizations, consulted for

university career centers domestically and internationally, and has been recognized with several awards for excellence, including a Fulbright Award for Administrators in

International Education, the NSEE Rising Leader Award, and the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service.

Marianna earned a BS from SUNY Binghamton and an MS from Indiana University, and expects to complete her PhD in Higher Education from Colorado State University this year.

Marianna leads an outstanding team of professionals who strive for excellence,

routinely going above and beyond to help students achieve successful outcomes, and help employers connect with our talented and diverse student body.

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Nereida Quiles, M.S.

Nereida Quiles, is the Director of Admission for Adult Education Accelerated Degree Programs at Concordia College-NY since 2008. She also serves as an adjunct instructor in the business and English programs for traditional and nontraditional students. Ms. Quiles co-directed the Student Leadership Development and Life Skills Initiative: Moving Forward To-gether with the Dean for Student Development. The initiative ensures that Concordia is a place where respect for diversity, different opinions and perspectives, is valued and encouraged. As a campus leader at CC, she serves on the Continuous Quality Improvement and the Faculty and Staff Recognition Dinner Committees.

As Concordia’s American Council on Education Institutional Representative, Ms. Quiles has advocated for, and increased awareness of, professional development opportunities for higher education professionals in Westchester County. She is also the NY State Public Relations Officer for American Council on Education Women’s Network.

Prior to her career in academia, Ms. Quiles garnered the broad and comprehensive business during her corporate career with Fortune 500 companies. She has experience in computer applications, communications, multi-million dollar account management, advertising, and marketing of online and print media advertising, with a proven ability to manage projects and teams while generating increased sales revenues, penetrate new markets, build brand awareness, and direct enterprise-wide projects and business operations.

Ms. Quiles has served as a keynote speaker at several leadership forums, high schools, and community events inspiring women of all ages to pursue their goals and educational aspirations. She has moderated a panel of speakers at various ACE Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education events within Westchester/ Rockland area and served as a panelist on several occasions.

Ms. Quiles recently completed coursework toward a doctorate degree in Executive Leadership at St. John Fisher College while working full-time at Concordia College-NY. She holds a M.S. in Organizational Leadership from Mercy College School of Business, and a B.A. in Economics from Lehman College-CUNY, Bronx, NY. She is presently working on her doctoral dissertation. Completing her undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate college education as a non-traditional adult student, it is natural for her expertise to be the non-traditional college student.

Ms. Quiles lives in Westchester with her husband, has two adult daughters and two grandchildren. As a life-long positive thinker, energetic and enthusiastic for life, she believes that learning, laughter and love are the keys to a happy and successful life.

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Patricia Clemency, CFRE

Patricia Clemency has been involved with Make-A-Wish for more than 30 years. During a career in broadcast media, she served as board chair for the Make-A-Wish Metro New York chapter from 1983 to 1985, and a board member for Make-A-Wish America from 1984 to 1988, where as vice president for media and public relations

she led the organization’s first national public relations effort.

She transitioned her professional focus to the nonprofit sector in 1988,

becoming the Metro New York chapter’s executive director. She was named president and CEO in 1998, and of the combined Metro New York and Western New York chapter in September 2011.

Pat is a frequent speaker on fundraising, major gifts and board development at conferences, seminars and as part of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Long Island’s Continuing Education faculty at Hofstra University.

In 2013, her Make-A-Wish chapter celebrated 30 years and 10,000 wishes with an historic pledge of $10 million from an individual whose was originally a $1,700 event donor. It is the largest individual donation ever received by Make-A-Wish

worldwide.

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Sharon Devivo, Ed.D.

Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo has been with Vaughn College since 1996 and president since July 2014. She is the seventh president of the institution and the first woman to hold the office in the College’s history.

During her tenure, she has been responsible for various aspects of the institution including academic affairs, development, admissions, financial aid, student affairs and public affairs. Her strategic objective is to transform teaching and learning, and create a unique Vaughn academic experience both inside and outside the classroom that engages faculty and students. Dr. DeVivo has led two strategic planning efforts that have assisted the College in transforming from primarily a training institution to one that offers

undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, technology, management and

aviation. The institution serves a diverse student body of more than 1,700 who are mostly first-generation American and first-generation college students. Vaughn and is also

designated by the US Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

In 1998, she developed the first fundraising effort by the College and has assisted Vaughn in raising more than $4 million in private gifts and more $20 million in the last seven years in federal and state grants in support of the mission of the institution. Most recently, the transformation of Vaughn College has been marked by the dramatic

improvement to the physical plant with the acquisition of $26 million in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. That renovation, along with a $15 million investment by the institution, in a new library and teaching and learning center, as well new faculty and administrative offices will be complete this summer.

Dr. DeVivo holds an associate’s from the University of Maryland in Munich,

Germany, a bachelor’s from the State University of New York at Albany, a master’s from Fordham University, and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. She serves on the boards of The Wings Club, International Aviation Women’s Association and Queens Advisory Board for the Boy Scouts.

13

Kathleen M. Merget, Ph.D.

Dr. Kathy Merget is the Associate Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs at The Culinary Institute of America. In this position, she is directly responsible for all student affairs at the college, including residence life, health services, counseling, student activities, and the recreation center. Dr. Merget is the Associate State Chair for the American Council on Education Women’s Network. She has served as regional coordinator and institutional representative for the Mid-Hudson Association of Women in Higher Education and is a founding member of the CIA’s Women in Leadership group. Kathy is also a member of the executive board for The Culinary Institute of America/Cornell School of Hotel Administration Alliance. Prior to assuming her current role in 2015 at the CIA, Dr. Merget was dean of liberal arts and business management for 15 years. She joined the CIA in 1994 as one of 12 new faculty members designing the curriculum for the college’s then-new bachelor’s degree in management and teaching Interpersonal Communication and Psychology of Human Behavior in the program. Dr. Merget also has taught freshman- and sophomore-level Nutrition and Introduction to Management courses at the CIA. She previously taught at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY as an adjunct graduate instructor. Kathy Merget earned her PhD and master’s degrees in Applied Developmental Psychology from Fordham University in Bronx, NY. She also holds a master’s degree in Counseling/Community Psychology from Marist College and a Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York at Cortland. In 2011, Dr. Merget returned to school, enrolling in Duke University’s Integrative Medicine program to become a Certified Integrative Health Coach focusing on the health and well-being of those who pursue a career in the culinary profession. She has been instrumental in introducing students, faculty, and staff at the CIA to the concept and practice of mindfulness. Additional areas of research within the food industry include emotional intelligence and non-cognitive skill sets. Kathy is a strong advocate for veterans who are returning to school. Dr. Merget is co-author of Anorexia, Bulimia, and Compulsive Overeating (1990). She has 15 years’ experience in private practice as a therapist in the Hudson Valley. Kathy lives in Highland, NY with her husband Dennis; they have four sons.