Leadership

Dean College Leadership

Led by Dean College President Dr. Paula M. Rooney, the senior management team is responsible for leading Dean College in successfully implementing its Mission.  

With close to 100 years in higher education and over 50 years of service at Dean College, the senior team owns a rich history of spreading The Dean Difference to thousands of students.

Dr. Paula M. Rooney | Gregg Chalk | Michael Fishbein | Cindy Kozil | Darrell Kulesza 

Daniel Modelane | Coleen Resnick 

Dr. Paula M. Rooney, President

 

Dr. Paula M. Rooney was named the 13th president of Dean College in 1995.  Guided by her visionary leadership, Dean College has achieved exceptional growth over the last two decades and experienced unprecedented success in enrollment, reputation and financial stability. 

Academically, Dean has been ranked as a Best Regional College – North by U.S. News & World Report for six consecutive years while ranking in the North Region for Best Value School. Dean earned National recognition as a College of Distinction for the 2018 – 2019 academic year based on four distinctions — engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community, and successful outcomes. Under Dr. Rooney’s stewardship, Dean College’s financial status has been solidified as endowment has increased from $7.9 million to over $42 million.

Highlights of Dr. Rooney’s tenure include the establishment of baccalaureate degree programs, taking the College from one of all associate degree-seeking students to one with a mix of associate and baccalaureate degree students. She has spearheaded Dean’s transition into NCAA Division III membership while also overseeing ambitious renovations that have transformed the Dean College campus, including the recent construction of the Rooney Shaw Center for Innovation in Teaching; updated athletic fields; the renovation of the campus library and establishment of the library learning commons; expansion of the campus center featuring state-of-the-art classrooms, a Main Stage theatre, dining center, fitness center and a center for career planning and internships; and the construction of a new residence hall, offering suite-style living.

Dr. Rooney continues to work diligently to improve the College and support Dean’s national recognition for The Dean Difference – the College’s distinct model for student success with highlights that include a 96% baccalaureate degree job placement/graduate school rate and a 98% associate degree transfer acceptance rate. 

In addition to her responsibilities at Dean College, Dr. Rooney is active in professional and community circles, serving on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation Board of Directors, the Hockomock Area YMCA Board of Incorporators and the New England Council, the last of which she also serves as chair of the Higher Education Committee. She is also a member of the executive committee and treasurer of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts.

Prior to joining Dean College, Dr. Rooney was the vice president for student affairs at Babson College. She formerly held senior academic and administrative appointments at Reed College, Colgate University and Indiana University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Framingham State College and both a Master’s degree and Doctorate degree from Indiana University.

Gregg Chalk, Vice President, Marketing and Business Development

 

Gregg has 20 years of marketing, strategic planning and partnership development experience serving in management roles for companies such as Reebok, Staples and Collette Vacations.

Gregg’s history in the private sector has centered on identifying strategic opportunities and delivering sales and marketing results for organizations focused on consumer goods, higher education, online learning and the service industry.

Arriving in 2011, Gregg is currently responsible for all marketing and strategy for the college while also overseeing the School of Continuing Studies. In addition, he directs all business development and partnership opportunities including Dean’s relationship with Kraft Sports Entertainment. He also manages the college bookstore.

Gregg has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sport Management from Springfield College and a Masters of Business Administration from Bellevue University. Gregg is active in the community and serves as a current or former board member for the Franklin Downtown Partnership, Metrowest Travel and Tourism, Milford Area Chamber of Commerce, the Route 495 Metrowest Corridor Partnership and the Franklin Girls Softball Association. 

Dr. Michael Fishbein, Vice President, Academic Affairs

 

Michael has a long-standing history of creating student success, working collaboratively with faculty and the community to build programs and devise models to support retention and academic achievement.

Prior to his position at Dean, Dr. Fishbein served as the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Mitchell College in New London, CT. He has also served as President of Antioch University, Midwest; Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Daniel Webster College; Chief Academic and Student Affairs Officer at Lyndon State College; and Dean of Cazenovia College.

Dr. Fishbein received his Baccalaureate Degree in Psychology from Bernard M. Baruch College and his Master’s Degree and Doctorate in Psychology from Clark University.  He is also a graduate of the Institute for Educational Management, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University. 

Additionally, Dr. Fishbein is active in the community, having served on many boards throughout the years. Prior services include: Vice President of the New London Main Street organization, Community Resources Board (CIC), Yellow Springs/Miami townships; Board of Clothes That Work; Board of Directors, and founding Chair of the Board of the Academy of Science and Design Charter School; Treasurer of Temple Beth Abraham; Board of the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union; the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative Education Committee; and the Inter-Religious Council of Central New York.

Cindy T. Kozil, Vice President, Enrollment and Retention

 

Cindy has over 30 years of Higher Education experience serving in a variety of roles at Eastern Illinois University, Western New England College and Dean College.

Cindy is currently responsible for overseeing the areas of Admissions, Robbins Family Center for Advising & Career Planning, Morton Family Learning Center, Residence Life, Student Conduct & Community Standards, Student Activities & Leadership Development, New Student Orientation, Dining Services, and Health & Counseling Services. She has been active in NASPA, NODA, NACA and Delta Zeta and has served her community as a board member for the Hockomock YMCA and the Franklin Downtown Partnership.

She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from The University of Connecticut, a Master of Science in Education from Eastern Illinois University, and a Human Resource Management Certificate from Dean College. She is a recipient of the NASPA Region I Institutional Leadership Award and was named an Honorary Alumna at Dean College.

Darrell Kulesza, Vice President, Information Technology and CIO

 

Prior to joining Dean College, Darrell worked at Perot Systems for nineteen years as a business analyst in data center operations, technical support and help desk services, then progressed through a variety of leadership positions from team lead, Global Applications Director Deputy CIO and Client Executive.

His roles with Perot Systems included Global Applications Director for Parsons Corporation, a $2.5 billion per year engineering and Construction Company headquartered in Pasadena, California and, prior to this, serving as Deputy CIO for Parsons Infrastructure and Technology, a $1.0 billion per year global business unit of the Parsons Corporation. He was also Senior Applications Manager for Volkswagen of America's Legacy applications leading a number of key initiatives including a major migration from mainframe-based systems to client server-based systems with an object-oriented architecture. His first major assignment with Perot Systems, was part of a small team of key business analysts who were on-site with Codex Motorola during the implementation of an enterprise critical order management system.    

Prior to his career in information technology, he had a successful career in retail management, working for the Lodge at Harvard Square and Filenes in a variety of positions starting as a trainee and eventually holding District Manager and Operations Manager positions.

Darrell's favorite leadership quote is "The true leader serves. Serves People. Serves their best interests, and in doing so will not always be popular, may not always impress. But because true leaders are motivated by loving concern rather than a desire for personal glory, they are willing to pay the price."  Eugene B. Habecker, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader.

Daniel Modelane, Vice President, Financial Services and Treasurer

 

Dan has held various senior level positions in manufacturing and telecommunications companies. He began his career in the Finance Career Development program at Data General.

Dan was the Corporate Controller at both Act Manufacturing and CTC Communications Corp. Prior to joining Dean College as its Vice President of Financial Services, he held several financial management positions at One Communications. He has extensive experience in raising capital, financial controls and financial reporting. He has a B.A. in Accounting from Providence College and an M.B.A. from Bentley University. 

Coleen Resnick, Vice President, Institutional Advancement

 

After working in corporate direct marketing in NYC and CT, Coleen entered the nonprofit world at Boston University in 1998. Overseeing the Annual Giving Department, she was a member of the Development and Alumni Relations Senior Leadership team. Upon completion of nine years with BU, Coleen joined Dean College in 2007.

As the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Coleen oversees leadership giving, annual giving, planned giving, alumni relations, stewardship, advancement services, special events, publishing of the print and electronic Dean Magazine, and corporation and foundation giving. Coleen is active at her children's schools and at her alma mater, Fairfield University.