Saint Peter’s University said Oct. 27 it appointed Dr. Christina M. Mortellaro as the interim dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions.
Mortellaro has been with Saint Peter’s since 2007, most recently as assistant vice president of academic affairs and assessment.
In her new role as interim dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions, Mortellaro will lead the school during its strategic expansion from a sole nursing focus to an interprofessional school for nursing and various health professions.
This strategic transition is aligned with “Igniting the Mission: The Strategic Plan for Saint Peter’s University 2025–28,” its commitment to academic excellence, its quest to position the university as a regional leader in health care education and to promote interdisciplinary innovation.
With this expansion of our nursing and health professions programs, the university is looking to broaden its educational footprint in health sciences, strengthen its value proposition, and support collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches to health education and workforce development.
“Saint Peter’s has a longstanding tradition of preparing compassionate, skilled professionals who serve with excellence and integrity. Our expansion in nursing and health professions reflects both a response to workforce needs and our Jesuit mission: to educate students who lead and serve others for the greater good. As a university that proudly serves a diverse student population, we are uniquely positioned to prepare graduates who understand the realities of healthcare disparities and are equipped to advance equity and access within the communities they serve,” said Mortellaro.
Mortellaro has nearly two decades of service to Saint Peter’s. She has led the design and launch of both graduate and undergraduate health sciences programs, advanced major curriculum revisions including the university’s core curriculum redesign, and strengthened the university’s culture of continuous improvement through her leadership in institutional assessment.
