USA Grad School News - August Update

Alexandra Gregory, DMA, has joined La Roche College in McCandless Township as dean of the School of the Professions. The Mt. Lebanon resident joined La Roche from Point Park University, where she served as associate vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of Graduate Studies, as well as a professor of music. Ms. Gregory received her Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, her Master of Arts from University of Central Missouri and her Bachelor of Music from Southwest Baptist University. She also holds an Executive MBA from Rockhurst University. She brings to the college a unique perspective to her role as dean. As an accomplished musician and choral conductor, she finds that her musical expertise perfectly complements her extensive experience in higher education. "I believe my many years as a choral conductor provide me with the ability to unite my passion with my leadership qualities," Ms. Gregory said. "In the role of dean, I work as a conductor would - seeing the big picture and noticing the little things that make a big difference. I am able to pull people together for a common goal, and I value what everyone brings to the School of the Professions as far as experience and dedication." In her most recent role as dean at Point Park, Ms. Gregory worked with all programs, focusing specifically on faculty development, assessment and retention programs, and accreditation programs - having served as the university's liaison with Middle States Commission on Higher Education and Pennsylvania Department of Education. She also worked closely on development efforts that garnered a major university gift for an executive-in-residence program and initiated the Academic Technology Users Group of faculty to assist staff and faculty with instructional technology and scholarship needs. Her expertise lies in improving educational quality at the institutions where she serves, as well as focusing on faculty enhancements, financial improvements, program development, and facility and capital improvements. She is eager to work with the faculty and programming within La Roche's School of the Professions as she begins her role with the college. She is looking forward, she said, to meeting the faculty with whom she has not yet met prior to classes resuming late this month. She was drawn to La Roche College, she said, because of its mission and identity. "I like the focus on values, on strong academic programs and on bringing an international environment to students locally," she said. "La Roche hosts students from 24 states and 38 countries. At colleges our size, that's unusual, and it's such a benefit for our students to be exposed to a global environment because, someday, that is where they will be working. "I am looking forward to being a part of building La Roche College's future during the next five to 10 years," she continued. "We are well-positioned to grow in reputation and the number of students served. It's an exciting time to be here." Ms. Gregory previously served as academic vice president at St. Peter's College in Jersey City, N.J., where she was chief academic officer and chaired the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee and supervised the functions and responsibilities of several academic deans. Among her higher education experience, she also served as dean of the Graduate School and associate professor of Music at Malone College in Canton, Ohio; associate dean of Helzberg School of Management (HSOM) and director of HSOM's undergraduate studies at Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Mo.; and assistant dean of Evening and Summer Schools at Rockhurst. Ms. Gregory was resident music director and conductor of Civic Opera Theater of Kansas City in 1994 and assistant conductor of the 1992 and 1993 seasons. She was assistant conductor and a member of the Central City Chorus in Manhattan, N.Y., from 2001 to 2004.