Delaware Valley University Announces New Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Doylestown, PA (08/25/2022) — Dr. Gloria Oikelome will join Delaware Valley University as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs effective Monday, October 3, 2022. She will report to University President Benjamin E. Rusiloski, Ph.D., and serve on his Cabinet.
Dr. Oikelome will be responsible for all aspects of academic affairs for the University including strategic planning, the Faculty, development and implementation of new programs, curriculum, and academic support for undergraduate, graduate and continuing and professional studies in DelVal's four schools: School of Graduate and Professional Studies, school of Business and Humanities, School of Life and Physical Sciences, and the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. She will also have responsibility for Distance Education and Education Technology, the Registrar's office, Institutional Research, the Library, and Military and Veteran's Affairs.
Dr. Oikelome is an accomplished educator, scholar, and administrator who has cultivated a successful 20-plus year career in higher education. She served most recently as vice president of Academic Affairs at Montgomery County Community College (MCCC). In addition to oversight of all academic programming at MCCC, Dr. Oikelome was responsible for academic support services and assurance of learning including serving as the College's Middle States Accreditation Liaison Officer. Prior to her role at MCCC, she served in the roles of Dean of Health Sciences, Associate Dean of STEM, Director of Online Education, Director of Institutional Effectiveness, Assessment & Accreditation, and Coordinator of Institutional Research & Assessment, and Research Analyst across a diverse range of two and four-year institutions including: public, private, historically black institutions (HBCU), a military college, and a medical school. Prior to stepping into academic leadership roles, Dr. Oikelome served as a faculty instructor of Biology, teaching across all levels.
She has extensive experience in teaching, leading, designing, developing, and implementing educational programs (particularly in STEM and Health Sciences), continuing education, and workforce development opportunities in both the United States and the United Kingdom. She also brings community partnership experience having worked with local and regional community leaders, private funders, grant agencies, and K-12 partners to facilitate and increase opportunities for higher education attainment.
Dr. Oikelome attributes her passion to inspire, mentor, and support students to committed faculty who saw her potential and challenged her to work tenaciously towards her academic goals. In her desire to consistently pay it forward, her efforts and scholarship have focused on student persistence, retention, and success in addition to her research and publication on program and general education assessment, organizational leadership, cross-cultural leadership, and women in leadership.
"I am particularly impressed with the global perspective and focus on access to education that she will bring to this position, as it aligns perfectly with our Core Values at Delaware Valley University," said Dr. Rusiloski. "Her experience developing and implementing new, market- driven programs in STEM and health sciences supports important strategic goals for our institution as well."
In addition to academic leadership, Dr. Oikelome develops and facilitates programming for various educational institutions, non-profits and NGOs dedicated to educating, empowering, and advocating for women, youth, and under-represented communities in several African countries, a commitment for which she has received several awards. She also serves as a STEM ambassador working to engage and mentor women and underrepresented populations into STEM careers. Her advice for students is that: "No matter what challenges you face in your educational experience, it's important to remember that those challenges do not define who you are or what your future will be."
Dr. Oikelome earned her Ph.D. degree in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University; her Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from Immaculata University; her M.S in Science Education and Cell & Molecular Biology from Long Island University; and her B.Sc. in Biology from Bethel University.
About Delaware Valley University
Delaware Valley University is a private, comprehensive, nonprofit university educating students with a curriculum that emphasizes and requires experiential learning. Located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles north of Philadelphia, the University offers more than 25 undergraduate majors in life and physical sciences, business, the humanities, and agricultural and environmental sciences; nine master's degrees; and a doctorate in education. Founded in 1896, DelVal has been cited by the National Society for Experiential Education as having the country's top experiential learning program, by Princeton Review as one of the best colleges in the Northeast, and by College Factual as having one of the top 20 animal science programs in the country.
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Delaware Valley University Announces Dr. Gloria Oikelome as New Provost and VP of Academic Affairs