New Dean Brings New Ideas to College of Health Sciences

Dr. Alberto Cardelle is the new Dean of the College of Health Sciences. Photo Credit / Rebecca Jasulevicz
Dr. Alberto Cardelle is the new Dean of the College of Health Sciences. Photo Credit / Rebecca Jasulevicz
Dr. Alberto Cardelle is the new Dean of the College of Health Sciences.
Photo Credit / Rebecca Jasulevicz

By Michael R. Kelly
SC Staff Writer

Dr. Alberto Cardelle has been appointed to the position of Dean of the College of Health Sciences at ESU.

“The Dean of the College of Health Sciences leads the college in developing inter-organizational collaboration to harness the knowledge and skills of the area’s health services professionals and educational systems to create opportunities for student learning and job preparation, partnerships for faculty research and improvements to the quality of life of the Pocono Region. Through this collaboration, the dean will facilitate solutions to the region’s health challenges,” said Alberto Cardelle.

Cardelle received his Bachelor of Science in Biology and Latin American Studies from Tulane University in 1986. He then earned his Master’s Degree in Public Health and Health Services in 1989 from Boston University.

To further his academic career, Cardelle also earned his Doctorate in International Studies with a concentration in Comparative Health Policy from the University of Miami in 1999. He has completed additional studies with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

Before coming to ESU, Cardelle was a research associate at the Dante Fascell North-South Center and the Fogarty International Research Center at the University of Miami, and he also spent time working with the World Health Organization.

Dean Cardelle joined ESU’s Department of Health Sciences in 1999, teaching in the CEPH accredited Master of Public Health program. He served as the department’s chair from May 2002 to January 2006, and then again from January 2008 to 2013. During this time he also founded ESU’s Health Services Administration Program.

He has taught a variety of classes, such as International Health Science, Public Health Administration, and Global Public Health. From 2006 to 2008 Cardelle served as Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate College.

Although he has been serving in this capacity on an interim basis since July of 2013, Cardelle has now officially been appointed the Dean of the College of Health Sciences. This became effective as of August 9, 2014.

The pressure and difficulty associated with this job is a challenge for which Dean Cardelle is certainly is ready. Cardelle believes the most difficult part of undertaking this new position will be “staying up with the innovative and energetic faculty and students in the college.”

He said, “The College of Health Sciences has an incredibly bright set of students and very competitive faculty who are on the top of their game with regard to health science education and research, so I have to make sure that I can make the college a place where they can continue to grow.”

Although he has been in this position in the past, Dean Cardelle believes his first major act will be to enact new academic programs. The College of Health Sciences will be starting a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) with the nursing program in January. Three other academic programs are also being considered.

Cardelle said, “The health sciences are a multi-disciplinary academic area that has produced among the greatest advancements in knowledge and creativity, and therefore the health sciences are not only about jobs and careers, but about allowing students to develop into citizens that have the knowledge and skills to improve the quality of life of the planet.”

When asked if he had anything else to say to the ESU community, Dean Cardelle said, “When I first came to ESU fifteen years ago, I thought I would be here for no more than three years, and now I find myself leading the college I first came to as an assistant professor, namely because ESU is a great institution.”

He continued, “ESU is an institution where you get to know students and work with students and the excitement you get from students sustains you for a long time. It is situated in an area that provides a good quality of life and an area where you can become involved in applied research and/or service projects. It is an easy place to excel as a member of an academic community.”

Email Michael at:
mkelly34@live.esu.edu