Stephanie Ivory was named the Associate Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Education in July.
She assumes this leadership role after serving as the chair of the Education Department since 2014.
“I hope to strengthen our connection with prospective students, local school districts and our rural community,” said Ivory.
Ivory has worked in the field of education for her entire career.
She earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Her doctoral degree, which she completed in 2011, is in Curriculum and Instruction. That is also the year that she began teaching at Saint Francis.
Prior to joining the faculty at SFU, Ivory taught elementary education in the Cambria Heights School District for 10 years. She also taught at IUP during her doctoral studies.
“My background in public education has prepared me well for this position,” said Ivory. “It taught me the importance of collaboration, communication and a learner-centered environment.”
She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in literacy and early childhood education at SFU. She emphasizes the science of reading in her educational approach.
Her research interests include partnerships for pre-service teachers; student motivation as it relates to online learning; and best practices in literacy instruction.
In addition to chairing the Education Department for the last 12 years, Ivory has also assumed other leadership roles at the University in the areas of faculty governance, accreditation and program review, among others.
She said she is looking forward to creating synergy within the University’s health science disciplines and the Education Department in her role as associate dean.
“My goal is to move beyond thinking of education and the health sciences as separate disciplines and instead create a culture of collaboration where faculty and students understand how their expertise complements one another.”
While the two disciplines are different, Ivory said she sees fundamental similarities between the two.
“Both fields share a common goal: preparing professionals who can improve the lives of individuals and strengthen our communities.”
