Dean College Honors the Life and Legacy of Former President Dr. Paula M. Rooney

The Dean College community is grieving the loss of Dr. Paula M. Rooney, President Emerita, who passed away peacefully on March 17. Dr. Rooney was the College’s 13th and longest-serving president, leading Dean from 1995 to 2022. During her 27 years of leadership at Dean, she transformed the institution in lasting ways, strengthening enrollment, expanding academic programs, enhancing the College’s reputation, and securing its financial future, all while maintaining an unwavering focus on student success.

“On behalf of the Dean community, I extend our deepest sympathy to the Rooney Shaw family during this time of remembrance and sorrow,” said Dean College Interim President Darrell Kulesza. “Dr. Rooney’s nearly three decades of leadership were extraordinary. Her vision and dedication to students shaped Dean into the institution it is today and established a foundation that will continue to guide us well into the future.”

A Massachusetts native, Dr. Rooney arrived at Dean in 1995 with her husband, Dr.  P. Gerard (Gerry) Shaw, and their newborn son, Paul, with a clear vision for what the College could become. At the time, Dean was a two-year institution facing financial challenges and limited resources. Through steady, mission-driven leadership, she guided the College through a period of significant transformation and growth.

At the heart of that transformation was Dr. Rooney’s belief that students must be at the center of every decision. She helped define a student-centered philosophy that became known as The Dean Difference. More than a guiding principle, The Dean Difference became embedded in the culture of the institution. It shaped how decisions were made, how programs were developed, and how the community supported each student’s personal and academic success. Dr. Rooney not only established this philosophy but embodied it in her leadership each day.

Under her leadership, Dean transitioned from a junior college to a thriving four-year institution, beginning with the launch of its first baccalaureate degree program in dance in 2000 and continuing with the expansion of academic offerings across disciplines.

Dr. Rooney also oversaw a significant transformation of the campus itself. She modernized infrastructure and technology and led the development and enhancement of key facilities that support student learning and engagement.

Two spaces on campus stand as enduring reflections of her commitment to students and to the continuous evolution of teaching and learning. In 2016, the Rooney Shaw Center for Innovation in Teaching was established in honor of the Rooney Shaw family’s decades of dedication to Dean College. Designed as a hub for faculty development, the Center provides a space for faculty to collaborate, experiment, and advance innovative, student-centered teaching practices. The Center reflects Dr. Rooney’s belief that exceptional teaching is foundational to student success and that institutions must continually evolve to meet the needs of their students.

At the heart of campus life, the Dr. Paula M. Rooney Student Center stands as a daily expression of her student-first philosophy. Under Dr. Rooney’s leadership, the Student Center was expanded and enhanced to serve as a central hub for academic, social, and co-curricular life. The space unites classrooms, dining, performance, and community in a single hub, serving as the heart of student life and a lasting tribute to her unwavering dedication to students.

That same philosophy guided her focus on preparing students for life after graduation. Dr. Rooney championed a holistic approach to career preparation and experiential learning, helping to launch the Dean Career Advantage in 2018. This model integrates career development into every aspect of the student experience, from academic coursework to co-curricular involvement and mentorship. Today, all baccalaureate degree students are required to complete at least one internship, and real-world application is embedded throughout the curriculum, ensuring that students are prepared to succeed in a dynamic and changing workforce.

Her leadership extended beyond campus through strategic partnerships that created meaningful, hands-on opportunities for students. Most notably, she established Dean’s exclusive academic partnership with Kraft Sports + Entertainment, which led to the creation of the Center for Business, Entertainment and Sport Management and opened doors for internships and real-world learning experiences with industry leaders.

Throughout her tenure, Dean earned consistent recognition as a Best Regional College – North by U.S. News & World Report and as a College of Distinction, reflecting strengths in engaged learning, teaching, community, and outcomes. These achievements were grounded in Dr. Rooney’s belief that institutional success is measured by the success of its students.

Dr. Rooney not only stabilized the College’s finances but expanded its budget and endowment to ensure a strong and sustainable future. Yet, by her own measure, her greatest accomplishment was the culture she helped build. Every decision was guided by a simple but powerful question: How will this benefit our students? That mindset continues to define Dean College today.

In 2022, Dr. Rooney stepped down after 27 years of transformative leadership, leaving behind a stronger, more vibrant institution. Her legacy lives on in the community she built and in the thousands of students whose lives were shaped by her vision, care, and unwavering belief in their potential.