Saint Ambrose University recently issued the following announcement.
St. Ambrose University Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Dean of the College of Health and Human Services Sandy Cassady, PhD, PT, was introduced as the next president of Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo., on Monday, Feb. 28.
Cassady will assume the presidency at Rockhurst, a Jesuit institution with a robust menu of health sciences degree programs, on July 1. She will remain at St. Ambrose through May 31.
"Dr. Cassady will leave St. Ambrose an immensely better institution as a result of her driven, committed and creative leadership," SAU President Amy Novak, EdD, said. "Even before her appointment to the Cabinet in 2015, Sandy played essential roles in the introduction of innovative and important new programs that helped countless students earn high-paying work in the medical and education fields. These efforts enhanced the University's reputation, and strengthened our impact on the community, state and region.
"Since her appointment to the position of VP for Strategic Initiatives, Sandy has further helped the University increase its value to students and the greater region through the introduction of more than a dozen graduate and undergraduate degree programs and microcredential courses."
St. Ambrose will begin a search for a new dean of the CHHS as quickly as possible, Dr. Novak said. Potential changes to the VP position and Cabinet structure will be determined by the ongoing Strategic Planning process, the first-year president added.
Cassady has served as dean since 2010 and over that span, CHHS enrollment has grown from 650 students to nearly 1,400.
Cassady Next Rockhurst President
Cassady will assume the presidency at Rockhurst, a Jesuit institution with a robust menu of health sciences degree programs, on July 1.
Cassady joined the faculty of the St. Ambrose Physical Therapy Department in 1994, and has served the University in numerous ways, including as co-chair of the Higher Learning Commission re-accreditation process in 2007 and 2008 and assisting in the creation of the Center for Teaching Excellence at SAU.
She also was partnered with the Quad Cities health community to create programs that served the community's needs and was instrumental in forging partnerships with over 1,400 organizations that provided 2,000 clinical placements for SAU students each year.
"It is bittersweet," Cassady said of leaving St. Ambrose after nearly three decades. "I believe strongly in Catholic higher education and I have loved every minute of being at St. Ambrose. The 28 years have gone by quickly."
Rockhurst is university similar in size to St. Ambrose, with nearly 4,000 students and both graduate and undergraduate programs housed in its three colleges.
"Our loss most certainly will be Rockhurst University's gain," President Novak said.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up