A Quartet of Women Who Have Been Appointed Deans

JoNes VanHecke was named vice president of student affairs and dean of students at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has served as the chief student affairs officer at two different institutions since 2006, first as vice president for student development and dean of student life at Central College in Pella, Iowa. She has served for the last 12 years as vice president for student life and dean of students at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota.

Dr. VanHecke earned a bachelor’s degree at Gustavus Adolphus College. She holds a master’s degree from Indiana University and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education.

Cynthia Mejia has been appointed the interim dean of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. She joined Rosen College as an assistant professor in the department of food service and lodging management in 2013.

Dr. Meija holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from California Polytechnic State University. She earned a master’s degree in hospitality management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a doctorate in hospitality administration from Texas Tech University.

Donna Bontatibus has been named dean of students and faculty at Connecticut State Community College Middlesex. Dr. Bontatibus previously served as the interim dean of academic and student affairs at Middlesex Community College. Dr. Bontatibus began working full-time at Middlesex as an English faculty member in 2004 and progressed to full professor by 2010.

Dr. Bontatibus hold a bachelor’s degree in English from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut. She earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Rhode Island.

Danielle Lauria is the new dean of nursing, health, and wellness at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, California. She had seen serving as director of didactic education at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. Earlier, she was the allied health program director and department chair at San Diego Mesa College.

Lauria began her career as a primary care physician assistant and has worked in family practice, internal medicine, emergency medicine, and dermatology. She holds a physician assistant degree and a master of public health degree.