Interim CLAAS dean eager to keep ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals moving forward
Moira Casey begins new role on July 1
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Published
Interim CLAAS dean eager to keep ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals moving forward
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Published
For more than 20 years, Casey has been a part of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University Regionals, first part of the English faculty on the Middletown campus before embarking on a series of leadership positions. Casey’s latest role? She’ll begin July 1 as interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Applied Science (CLAAS) at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals.
“The mission at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals is to provide a high quality, open access education to students who might not always have access to one,” Casey said. “That has been my driving goal throughout my career here.”
A New Jersey native, Casey earned her bachelor’s degree in English Education from the College of New Jersey before obtaining her master’s degree and Ph.D., both in English, from the University of Connecticut.
Casey was working on one of Connecticut’s regional campuses when the opportunity at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s Middletown campus arose.
“The regional campuses at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú are really uniquely situated,” Casey said. “Faculty members and students on the regional campuses have a smaller institution feel and close-knit community with the resources of a large university. It really is the best of both worlds.”
Casey is currently a professor and regional senior associate dean for Academic Affairs. In her new position, she’ll follow Ande Durojaiye, the previous dean of CLAAS who was named vice president for strategy and partnerships in February.
“We are excited for Moira Casey to lead ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals,” Elizabeth Mullenix, ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s provost, said. “Moira has a wealth of experience and a passion for the mission of the Regionals. She will continue to keep the regional campuses moving forward on a positive path.”
Continuing the progress set in motion by Durojaiye is one of Casey’s main goals. She pointed to the Early College Academy, the expansion of the Work+ program, and increased engagement with local communities and the K-12 systems as proof of the momentum that’s been built at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals.
The recent announcement of the polytechnic campus, an initiative of the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúTHRIVE strategic plan, is another reason Casey is excited for her new role.
“That has really put a spotlight on the regional campuses and what we might be able to do for Ohio and the region,” Casey said. “It is a real opportunity for us to rethink what we do as we engage with local industry and other institutional partners to lead ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú into a new age.
“There is a lot of energy around ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúTHRIVE, and that energy is really university wide. There is a big commitment to the regional campuses as we do something new for the state of Ohio and new for ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University.”
Established in 1809, ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg.