It is with mixed emotions that I announce to the campus community that Linda Petrosino ’77, M.S. ’78 has let us know that the current academic year will be her last as dean of the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance. A holder of both undergraduate and graduate degrees in speech-language pathology from the school, she has provided tremendous service to Ithaca College over the past 11 years.
Linda had a distinguished career as a teacher, researcher, and administrator in the College of Health and Human Services at Bowling Green State University before returning to her alma mater in 2012 as dean of HSHP and professor of speech-language pathology.
As dean, Linda prioritized the infusion of interprofessional education and practice throughout the school’s programs and student experiences; conducted a strategic realignment of academic programs, with an emphasis on future sustainability; and focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in practice, programs, and curricular enhancements.
Among her many significant accomplishments, Linda consolidated the physical therapy program onto the IC campus and facilitated development of a doctoral degree program in occupational therapy, master’s degree programs in physician assistant studies and athletic training, a fully online part-time graduate program in speech-language pathology, and a 3+4 articulation agreement with the Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She also developed and implemented the school strategic plan; led the renovation of key facilities including the additions of human cadaver anatomy, motion analysis, Bio Safety 2, and patient simulation labs; provided oversight of program reviews, including for 10 different accrediting bodies; and created the Dean’s Board of Advocates and the Interprofessional Student Advisory Board.
In 2014-15 and then again in 2016-18, Linda stepped in to serve the college as interim provost and vice president for educational affairs, during which times she facilitated two presidential transitions and Middle States reaccreditation, co-chaired the Institutional Effectiveness Budget Committee, worked with the facilities master plan, and finalized the IC 20/20 strategic plan.
Her institutional service has also included membership on search committees for a variety of academic and administrative leadership positions, co-chairing the Council on Diversity and Inclusion and the Campus Climate Survey, and serving on the Shared Governance Task Force, IC 20/20 Advisory Council, and Longview/IC Planning Committee. She has served the local community as a board member and president of Longview.
Linda’s contributions to her profession have included serving as president of the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions and holding leadership positions within the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She was named an Exemplar of Women in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics by the State of Ohio.
I have been particularly grateful for Linda’s steady collaboration and support since even before my arrival at Ithaca College in 2019. Her institutional knowledge and mentoring have been so important to me personally as I navigated transitions into and within the college, and this year she again brought her calming, warm, and consummately professional demeanor to the dean team. Her help with onboarding her three new dean colleagues has been deeply appreciated by the whole academic affairs leadership team. We will miss her, but we know that thanks to her many contributions she is leaving us all, and particularly HSHP, in a strong position.
I am pleased to announce that Christina Moylan, associate provost for graduate and professional studies, has agreed to serve as the interim dean of the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance for the 2023-24 academic year. She brings significant experience and expertise to this position, having served for three years as associate dean in the School of HSHP and in 2020-21 as the college’s director of public health emergency preparedness, helping the institution successfully navigate the COVID pandemic.
Christina’s wealth of knowledge has prepared her well to lead the school through this transition, and I am grateful for her willingness to serve the college in this capacity as we conduct a national search for the next dean.
We are all tremendously thankful to Linda for her countless contributions to this institution, and I hope that you will join me in showing your appreciation as she prepares to conclude her time at Ithaca College.
Sincerely,
Melanie Stein
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs