Janelle Chiasera, Ph.D., has been appointed to the position of dean of the School of Health Sciences. She is replacing Dr. William Kohlhepp, who announced last year that he would step down as dean and go back to working as a faculty member beginning this semester. The Quinnipiac community was made aware of this via an email from Interim Vice Executive President and Provost Jennifer Brown.

Chiasera received a bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science from Bowling Green State University. She then went on for a master’s degree in allied health education at The Ohio State University. She now holds a Ph.D. in quantitative research, education and measurement (Education Policy and Leadership) from The Ohio State University as well.

Prior to coming to Quinnipiac, Chiasera served as senior executive associate dean for the School of Health Professions at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She was also chair of the department of clinical and diagnostic sciences and as program director of the clinical laboratory science program. She has successfully led much change within the department, allowing for growth in the programs and enrollment. She worked to create international education partnerships and has shown commitment to student research with faculty as mentors. She helped develop multiple graduate and undergraduate programs at UAB as well.

Chiasera previously served on the Review Committee for Accredited Programs (RCAP) of the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NASCLS). She is the state chair for the Alabama Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education in the American Council on Education (ACE). This organization works to help women grow as leaders at all levels at colleges and universities. Chiasera now serves as a regional director for the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS).

The new dean has been recognized for leadership abilities in multiple ways. She was nominated by UAB’s senior leadership for the prestigious ACE Fellows Program and was accepted as an ACE Fellow in 2015-16 for a yearlong placement at Clemson University. This made her the first ACE Fellow from UAB. She was honored for teaching and scholarship with an Ohio State outstanding teaching award in 2005, a distinguished author award in 2014 and the Joseph J. Kleiner award for best article from the Clinical Laboratory Science Journal in 2018. 

Chiasera will begin serving as dean of the School of Health Sciences on Sept. 16, 2019.

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