Jerry Cleland is the interim dean for the
College of Science and Health (CSH), DePaul’s tenth and newest college which was formed in 2011 to better facilitate rapidly growing programs. The college is home to programs in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, environmental science, nursing and psychology.
At DePaul, undergraduate enrollment in the sciences, health-related programs and mathematics has increased a combined 29 percent over the past five academic years. At the graduate level, those programs have increased enrollment 30 percent over the same period. DePaul has responded nimbly in addressing this demand through expansion and enhancement of numerous academic programs and the significant improvement of its facilities in recent years, including the opening of a second major science-focused building in 2009.
CSH takes a multidisciplinary approach to preparing students for careers in the evolving health care field, which is being radically reshaped by numerous technological, social and economic factors. In addition, CSH will be better able to serve the needs of students transferring from the many health care programs at community colleges and other four-year institutions.
A professor of psychology specializing in child development, Cleland received his PhD from Loyola University in 1991, where his dissertation research investigated the effect of infant cries on caregiver behaviors. He began his teaching career at Barat College where he later served as vice president for research and program development, executive vice president, and dean of Barat College after its merger with DePaul.
After joining the DePaul University Psychology Department in 2005, he served as the program director for a degree completion program in Lake County, the program director for the Master of Science in General Psychology, the Associate Department Chair and then as the Department Chair. As a faculty member in the Psychology Department, Cleland served on many committees including the Assessment Committee which won the Best Assessment award.
During Cleland’s time as the Associate Chair and as the Department Chair, the department has developed numerous online courses and plans to offer one of its nine concentrations entirely online beginning in the fall of 2012. The department also developed its first short-term study abroad trip to China that will make its first trip in December 2011.
At this same time, several of the department’s doctoral programs went through major curricular restructuring to better align their coursework with national norms. The Clinical Psychology program received full accreditation after submitting materials and hosting a three-day onsite visit by representatives from the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation. Accreditation was granted for the maximum seven-year period, indicating that the commission perceived the program to be very strong.
Cleland looks forward to building the new College of Science and Health with his faculty and staff colleagues in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Health Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Nursing, Physics, Psychology and STEM Studies.