New Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Colleen Di Raddo has been selected as the new assistant vice president for Academic Affairs. Di Raddo’s new responsibilities will be to assess accreditation issues, review programs and to strengthen on-line learning. “I am very excited. Wesley is moving forward and I am moving with it,” Di Raddo said.

Di Raddo will play an important role in the Office of Academic Affairs, working closely with Dr. Patricia Dwyer, the vice president of the department. Her initial plans are to listen and learn as much as she can about Wesley College - its people, history, future plans and ways of doing things as she works on the projects and areas that Dwyer and the other College leaders have designated as her focus. Learning about the New Castle Campus, Di Raddo plans to work with them to accomplish their goals and plans for the future in ways that align with the Strategic Plan and Mission of Wesley College.

Di Raddo grew up on a farm in northern Baltimore County, near Boring, Maryland. She is married to a Presbyterian minister and motivational speaker. She loves to sing and has even spent time traveling as a professional singer. Her other interests include being outside and gardening. She explained that she is a strong supporter of new ideas and change and looks forward to helping support Wesley embrace both. She feels her life mission “has to do with using the skills and talents I have to create environments for change to occur so that people and/or organizations do what they need to do in a better way.”

Di Raddo received her PhD in psychoeducational processes from Temple University in Philadelphia. Her dissertation topic was “Group Development and Organizational Productivity in Leadership Groups: A Study of Presbyterian Church Sessions." She also attended Villanova University in Philadelphia and received an M.S. in counseling and human relations in 1983. She obtained her B.A. in biology and secondary education certification from Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania, and she also has a certificate in human dynamics.

Di Raddo is a member of various professional organizations. These memberships include American Educational Research Association, American Society of Training & Development, National University Telecommunications Network (NUTN) and American Society for Curriculum Development.

Di Raddo will be attending upcoming department meetings on campus to meet with Wesley faculty and discuss the next steps for the report preparation for the College's Middle States accredidation process. Working at an institution that is focusing on strengthening infrastructure, clarifying goals and increasing effectiveness, Di Raddo is pleased to be a part of the team and has high hopes for the future.