MCC Appoints Interim Academic Dean
Sandra Palmer, Ph.D.
Manchester, CT – (August 28, 2013)… Previously, Palmer was Dean of Academic Affairs at Naugatuck Valley Community College where she served as the college’s chief academic officer, co-chair of the NEASC Self-Study, was responsible for the oversight of five academic divisions, managed a $10 million budget and provided for development, supervision and evaluation for all faculty members within the academic unit.
As Interim Academic Dean, Palmer will be responsible for faculty and professional staff hiring, evaluation and development; curriculum and course development; instructional innovation, resources and quality and outcomes assessment; leadership in the development and implementation of college goals and strategic plan; academic budget distribution/management; and academic policy.
Dr. Palmer has worked in higher education administration for more than 25 years. Palmer worked for Suffolk County Community College of the State University of New York, a multi-campus college enrolling more than 25,000 students. At Suffolk, Palmer taught, coordinated distance education and served as academic chair and assistant dean of faculty for liberal arts, worked as the college associate dean for visual and performing arts, and served as the associate dean of academic affairs at two of the College’s campuses and has continued to teach art history classes each semester. She has had articles published on succession management, collaboration between academic and student affairs, and developmental education.
Her experience includes providing leadership to academic programs on program review and assessment, helping establish the Long Island Art Collection of Suffolk County, organizing registration and advisement days, implementing an early start program, establishing partnerships with local high schools, instituting a peer mentoring initiative, developing professional development workshop series and serving as liaison for all academic affairs issues.
She holds a Ph.D., in art history and a master’s degree in art history from the University of Chicago, a master’s in business administration from Adelphi University, and a bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of California, Davis.
Students of any age who possess the desire to pursue higher education are welcome at Manchester Community College. MCC is proud of its academic excellence, new facilities, flexible schedules, small classes, low tuition and faculty with both academic and “real world” credentials. The college offers over 60 programs, transfer options, financial aid and scholarships, as well as access to baccalaureate degrees through guaranteed admissions programs with several universities. The main, park-like campus, which is easily accessible from I-84, is also the home of Great Path Academy, a middle college high school, serving grades 9-12. The college’s second location, the Manchester Community College Arts and Education Center, opened in downtown Manchester in 2012.
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