Constance A. Knapp, PhD, has been named Interim Dean of the Seidenberg School effective July 1. She succeeds Susan Merritt, PhD, who served as founding dean for 25 years.
Dr. Knapp’s appointment to the position was announced on June 12, 2008 in a letter to the Pace community from Geoff Brackett, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. In his letter, the Provost expressed confidence in Dr. Knapp as she possesses “a deep understanding of the issues that the school and the University face in the short and long term,” and “the intellect, skill and expertise to lead Seidenberg through its current transition.”
Dr. Knapp joined Pace in 1985 as lecturer of information systems on the New York City campus and relocated to Westchester in 2002. She holds a BS from SUNY – New Paltz, an MBA from Fordham University, and an MPhil and PhD from the City University of New York and currently holds the rank of Professor of Information Systems. She has assumed numerous leadership positions over the years including the co-directorship of the Pforzheimer Faculty Development Center (2002) and, until this appointment, served as the chair of the Seidenberg Faculty Council. Dr. Knapp is “highly regarded as a fair but tough-minded manager” as well as an outstanding teacher.
As interim dean, Dr. Knapp envisions growth through collaboration with other schools and the development of joint programs “with a focus on technology, transforming courses either as part of course content or delivery.” “Transformation through Technology” may very well become the new Seidenberg School motto under her leadership.