Alvernia College Names New Vice President of University Life and Student Learning Experiences.

I am delighted to announce that Dr. Joseph J. Cicala has accepted our invitation to be our new Vice President of University Life and Student Learning Experiences.

Joe has served for ten years as the chief student life officer at La Salle University, a mid-sized Catholic university in Philadelphia and his undergraduate alma mater. As Dean of Students, he leads a large division of 90 professional and support staff and 100 student staff across a large range of units. Previously, he directed the Advising and Counseling Center at Philadelphia University, with responsibility for all first-year academic advising and overall leadership for upper division academic advising across the various colleges. In addition to advanced degrees from West Chester and New York Universities, he has over twenty-five years of experience, including work in residential life and career services and with learning communities, new student programs, and services for educationally and economically disadvantaged students. Joe’s wife, Dr. Joanne C. Conlon, is also a higher education professional with expertise in advising, currently serving as Director of the Pre-Major Advising Center at West Chester University.  

Joe was recommended unanimously and enthusiastically by the Search Advisory Committee. Reactions to him following his campus visit were overwhelmingly positive.  A range of references (and others whose opinions were solicited) praised his intelligence and deep knowledge of student development research and best practices; his breadth of experience in academic learning services as well as in key student life areas; his ability to work with diverse staff and faculty colleagues; his commitment to Catholic higher education and capacity to integrate Franciscan values into the holistic development of students; and his delight in students and caring relationships with them. His colleagues emphasize that he is a passionate advocate for student engagement, loves his work, and gets things done!

The Search Advisory Committee members were superb representatives of Alvernia and deserve credit for the success of our search. Many thanks to Co-Chairs Shirley Williams and John McCloskey and to Sharon Blair; Peggy Bowen; Adam Butler, ’11; Laurel Cline; Wanda Copeland; Jeff Dittman; Jamie Gibson, ’10; Ginny Hand; Gwynne Kolodziejski; Joan Lewis; Nicole Rhoads; Ana Ruiz; and Abby Swatchick.  

We are fortunate that, given his proximity to Reading, Joe will be able to begin work at Alvernia earlier than we anticipated. He, Sister Margaret, and I will finalize a transition plan over the holidays with an eye toward his starting at Alvernia sometime this spring. As we anticipate Joe’s arrival, please join in thanking Sister Margaret for valuable executive leadership and generous service these last several years. Both as interim provost and, more recently, as chief student life officer, she has played a key role in moving Alvernia forward. I am also personally very grateful.

Helen and I look forward to hosting a campus reception in January to welcome Joe and Joanne. And all of us look forward to Joe’s leadership and service to enhance the quality of student life and our students’ overall educational experience.