After a national search, Daemen University has appointed Heather Maloney-Stassen as founding dean for the new College of Arts, Sciences and Education. 

As dean, Maloney-Stassen will be charged with establishing strategic priorities for the college and advancing the liberal arts mission of the university. The new college will also serve all undergraduate students through a new general education curriculum.

“As founding dean, Heather will bring vision and energy in establishing this new role and college at the university,” said Daemen President Gary Olson. “Daemen is deeply committed to the liberal arts, and we look forward to Heather’s leadership in spearheading this new venture.”

Maloney-Stassen’s appointment is effective June 1. 

Coming to Daemen from Cazenovia College, she has served in numerous leadership roles within the institution’s Division of Humanities and Natural Sciences, most recently as director of the Communication Studies Program, as well as interim program director for their English Department. She also served as an associate professor of communication studies, and joined the college in 2012 as an assistant professor. 

Prior to joining Cazenovia, Maloney-Stassen taught at Syracuse University and Hamilton College, and she served as a senior lecturer and online course developer at Western New England University.

Maloney-Stassen earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Ohio Northern University, a Master of Science degree in communications from Ithaca College, and both a Master of Arts degree in communication studies and a Doctor of Philosophy in rhetoric and public culture from Ohio University. She is a communications scholar analyzing public culture and rhetoric.

As dean, Mahoney-Stassen will oversee the Departments of Education, English, Entrepreneurship, Math, Psychology, History and Political Science, Liberal Studies, Local and Global Sustainability, Modern Language, Natural Sciences, Philosophy and Religion, and Visual and Performing Arts.  

After achieving university status in March, Daemen announced the formation of the three academic units at the institution: the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education; the College of Health Professions; and the College of Health, Human Sciences, and Business. National searches for the latter two colleges will occur later this year.