Janelle Chiasera, of North Haven, the former senior executive associate dean for the School of Health Professions at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, has been appointed dean of the School of Health Sciences at Quinnipiac University.
“Dr. Chiasera has had a very distinguished career at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in higher education,” said Jennifer Gerarda Brown, interim executive vice president and provost. “She has successfully led both organizational and strategic change within her department, facilitated exponential growth in programs and enrollment, developed international education partnerships, demonstrated a strong commitment to faculty-mentored student research, and helped develop multiple graduate and undergraduate programs — including biomedical sciences, one of the fastest-growing and highest-quality undergraduate programs at UAB.”
As dean of the School of Health Sciences, Chiasera leads a school that offers graduate and undergraduate programs in such areas as physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, pathologist’s assistant, biomedical sciences, diagnostic medical sonography, social work, athletic training, microbiology and immunology, cardiovascular perfusion and radiologic sciences. Chiasera replaces William Kohlhepp, who announced last year that he would step down as dean of the School of Health Sciences and the end of the 2018-19 academic year to return to the physician assistant faculty.
“I feel honored to have been provided this opportunity to lead the School of Health Sciences and look forward to working with the engaged and committed faculty, staff, students and stakeholders in building on an already strong foundation to chart the next phase of excellence for the school,” Chiasera said.
Chiasera is a leader in her profession and currently serves as a regional director for the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS). Prior to that, she served on the Review Committee for Accredited Programs (RCAP) of the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS), where she also served as the accreditation standards discipline lead for four-year programs in medical laboratory sciences. She is also active in the American Council on Education (ACE), serving as state chair for the Alabama Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education, an organization dedicated to the professional growth and development of women leaders at all levels in higher education institutions.
Chiasera, who was a 2015-2016 fellow of the American Council on Education, has presented and published widely on both clinical chemistry and leadership. She has received commendations for her teaching and scholarship including an Ohio State outstanding teaching award in 2005, a distinguished author award in 2014, and the Joseph J. Kleiner award for best article in 2018 from the Clinical Laboratory Science Journal.
Chiasera has a Ph.D. in quantitative research, education and measurement (Education Policy and Leadership) from The Ohio State University, a master’s degree in allied health education from The Ohio State University, and a bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science from Bowling Green State University.