SHU Hires College of Health Professions Associate Dean

SHU’s commitment to social justice and inclusivity attracted Irina Ellison to post

Sacred Heart University has named Irina Ellison associate dean for academic affairs & global programs for the College of Health Professions (CHP). She is responsible for ensuring the development, implementation and growth of the CHP’s academic programs.

Ellison earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Vassar College in New York and her doctorate in pathology from New York Medical College. She has more than 20 years of experience teaching science at the undergraduate and graduate levels in and around New York City. Her research focuses on strategies to build a more just, accessible and inclusive educational environment and a world in which social determinants define neither health outcomes nor graduation rates.

“Irina is a dedicated and experienced academic leader, having served in a variety of appointed and elected academic leadership roles and broadly affecting change in support of inclusivity, academic excellence and student success,” said Karen Daley, interim CHP dean. “With her expertise, she will certainly help our students and programs thrive.”

In a question-and-answer interview, Ellison shared how her research into improving health equity and decreasing health disparities will benefit SHU.

What interested you in this position?

The foundation upon which I have built my career has been my ability to connect with students, faculty and administration and to collaborate with individuals and communities across disciplines. I am excited for the opportunity to work collaboratively with our awesome students and outstanding faculty in the CHP as well as my colleagues from across the other colleges and in the provost’s office to improve the academic experiences of our students and position them for success as they enter the health-care workforce.

In this position, I will be able to leverage my previous experiences in course and program development, leadership, inclusive excellence and interprofessional education to contribute to the growth and development of the CHP and SHU. I will also strengthen our CHP global health programs in addition to fortifying ties to the local community so we can best serve and learn from our neighbors.

What are your responsibilities and goals in your new position?

I am responsible for supporting the strategic plan and providing leadership to ensure the development, implementation and growth of academic programs in the CHP, including our CHP global health programs in Dingle, Ireland, and elsewhere around the world. My goal is to strengthen and build upon the CHP’s incredible momentum and to assist in propelling the college into its next chapter through a student-centered approach.

How does your research on building just, accessible and inclusive environments apply to your role at SHU? 

SHU’s commitment to inclusive excellence and social justice strongly aligns with my research, which is one of the reasons I was drawn to the institution. My graduate school training, dissertation research and early-career publications centered on the intersection of the biological sciences and public health with a particular focus on racial health disparities linked to smoking-related pathologies. Since then, my research has become increasingly focused on how public health practices could be practically applied, specifically to historically underrepresented populations, to improve health equity and decrease health disparities.

For more than 20 years, I have worked with historically underserved student populations in multiple institutions in and around New York City, and most recently my research has focused on pedagogical practices to support the success of historically underrepresented populations in the health professions pipeline. For example, through the strategic implementation of scaffolded, innovative practices, I led a team that successfully closed a racial equity gap of more than 30 percentage points in gateway courses for health professions students while improving the success of all those enrolled in the courses and maintaining academic rigor.

What about SHU and its CHP programs make the University stand out from others?

SHU and the CHP are strongly driven by and are faithful to a mission in which I am fully invested. This distinctive authenticity really stood out to me, especially once I stepped foot on campus. I immediately felt the palpably strong sense of community, enthusiastic excitement for learning and pure joy that exists here, and I wanted to be part of that passionate energy! The exceptional faculty and staff, who are deeply dedicated to the success of our CHP students, coupled with the University’s strong commitment to resourcing our programs through our very impressive facilities, have created an environment in which CHP students thrive. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of SHU’s and the CHP’s future!