New assistant deans plan changes at Kent State branch campus

SALEM — Kent State University has hired two new assistant deans who are already forging relationships in Columbiana County.

They are Dr. Susan Rossi, formerly of Eastern Gateway Community College in Steubenville, and Dr. Melissa Denardo, formally of Aiken Technical College in Aiken, S.C.

At EGC, Dr. Rossi was the dean of business, engineering and information. She worked with faculty and staff to broaden programs and started a registered health-information technology degree, a power plant operation degree and an electric-utilities technician degree — viable jobs on the Ohio River.

She oversaw a budget of over $2 million and wrote or co-wrote numerous grants.

She will be working at Kent’s East Liverpool campus.

Dr. Denardo was vice president of academic affairs at Aiken Technical College.

She is credited with establishing retention activities that helped increased enrollment, the graduation rate and student satisfaction.

She also started a faculty academy, revamped program reviews and developed a “Course Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Plan.” She was also instrumental in bringing “Achieving the Dream,” a multiyear national initiative to help students succeed, to South Carolina.

For the complete story, see Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com