Fairfield University names new dean of School of Continuing Education | Press Releases

Dr. Edna Farace Wilson, Dean of the School of Continuing Education at Marywood University in Scranton, Pa., has been named Dean of the Fairfield University School of Continuing Education, effective July 1. Dr. Jack Beal, chair of the Department of Physics, has been serving as interim Dean since the retirement of Dr. John Michael Sweeney last summer.

In announcing the appointment, Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., University President said, "Dr. Wilson has extensive experience in the education of adults, having served in various posts in schools of continuing education for nearly a quarter century. That experience, together with her leadership in innovative delivery systems and the use of new technologies, makes her an ideal candidate to lead Fairfield's School of Continuing Education at this important juncture."

Prior to Marywood, where she has been dean since 1994, Dr. Wilson was associate dean of the School of Continuing Studies at La Salle University, associate director of continuing education at Neumann College, assistant director of continuing education at Rutgers University and associate director of continuing education at Temple University.

"I have devoted my entire professional career to the education of adults," she said. "I look forward to working with Fairfield University's faculty and staff to develop new leaning opportunities for adults.

"It is essential that we create a lifelong learning climate for students of all ages. In order to accomplish this, all students must develop an awareness of the benefits of lifelong learning. If students are to succeed in the 21 ^st century, they must understand the value of leaning throughout the life span. I am pleased to see that many of Fairfield's continuing education programs are helping to convey this message.

"Fairfield's reputation for quality and its mission to prepare students to respond to the changing world will enable me, as the new dean, to strengthen corporate relationships, address workforce development needs and provide a new vision for the flexible delivery of learning options."

Dr. Wilson earned bachelor's and master's degrees in social work and a doctorate in education from Temple University, and an associate's degree from Lehigh County Community College.

She is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the national honor society for educators, and a charter member and executive officer of Alpha Sigma Lambda. She also is founding chair of the scholarship committee and vice president of the Kiwanis Club of Scranton; executive officer of the Employment Opportunity & Training Center Board; chair of the National Research Committee of the Association for Continuing Higher Education; and Pennsylvania State Representative for the Council of Adult and Experiential Learning.

At Marywood, she has served as chair of the Committee on Distance Education, the Three Year Goals Committee on Resource Generation, the Continuing Education Policy Committee, the Committee for International Students and the Academic Advisory Committee for Off Campus Programs. She has served as a member of numerous committees there, has made professional presentations across the country and abroad, and is the author of several papers and articles.