Canisius President John J. Hurley appointed Margaret C. McCarthy, PhD, as the new vice president for academic affairs. McCarthy is a professor of graduate education at Canisius and currently serves as associate vice president for academic affairs. She’ll assume the position of vice president in the next academic year.
“Dr. McCarthy’s collaborative approach and continuous expressions of the ideals and values embedded in the college’s Catholic, Jesuit mission and identity will be invaluable to her in the role of vice president for academic affairs,” said President Hurley in announcing McCarthy’s new appointment. “I certainly look forward to working with her as we continue to chart a new course for Canisius.”
McCarthy has been a dedicated member of the college’s faculty and administration for more than 30 years, during which time she has held a number of key roles at Canisius.
Prior to her current position as associate vice president for academic affairs, McCarthy served as dean of the School of Education and Human Services. Her leadership in this role was both significant and impressive. Most notably, McCarthy led the school through the comprehensive NCATE accreditation process, and later its reaccreditation process.
Under McCarthy’s leadership, the School of Education and Human Services also introduced four new online masters programs and saw the creation of the Institute for Autism Research. Similarly, her oversight of the school resulted in considerable external foundation and grant funding, new forms of partnering with local schools, and consistent success in educating students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
In addition to her accomplishments as dean, McCarthy was also the first director of Canisius’ graduate program in college student personnel administration. The program prepares student affairs practitioners to work in all sectors of higher education administration. She also served as chair of the Education Department and executive director of graduate enrollment.
McCarthy holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from the State University of New York College at Buffalo and a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from Canisius College (1987). She earned a doctorate degree in social foundations of education from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
McCarthy received the New York State College Student Personnel Association Award (2002) for her outstanding contributions to the profession. She is also the author of the recently released Power of Sisterhood: Women Religious Tell the Story of the Apostolic Visitation. The book chronicles the tension that surrounded the 2008 Apostolic Visitation and the story of solidarity and renewed identity that emerged, amongst all women religious.
McCarthy succeeds Richard A. Wall, PhD, who has served as the college’s interim vice president for academic affairs since 2011. Wall is a professor of economics and finance at Canisius. He will return to the faculty for the 2015-2016 academic year.
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