Dr. John Alessio will be the next dean of the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Vice President for Academic Affairs Scott Olson announced recently. Alessio will begin his new duties in July.
"John has a tremendous breadth and depth of experience that makes him the ideal person for Minnesota State Mankato and the College," Olson said. "He not only has extensive experience as dean of a large college at Marywood University, but he also has extensive experience with our IFO collective bargaining agreement and style of shared governance."
Alessio currently is professor of Sociology and Anthropology at St. Cloud State University, where he served from 2003 until present, and from 1984-2000. He has held several faculty leadership positions at St. Cloud, including director of Sociology and director of the Social Responsibility MS program. At St. Cloud he also served as president of the University Faculty Association and state treasurer of the IFO.
From 2000 until 2003 he was dean of the Undergraduate School at Marywood University in Scranton, Pa., responsible for budgets and curricula for 60 programs, 19 departments, 100 full-time faculty and 1,600 students. At Marywood he led and completed a successful core curriculum transformation project.
From 1980-1984 he was a Sociology faculty member at Penn State University-Behrend, and from 1978-1980 was a faculty member and director the Sociology program at Gannon University, Erie, Pa. He also has been an instructor at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, an instructor at Viterbo College, LaCrosse, Wis., and a data analyst for the City of Carbondale, Ill.
The College of Social & Behavioral Sciences includes more than 110 faculty members and approximately 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students. Departments and programs include Anthropology, Corrections, Earth Science, Economics, Ethnic Studies, Geography, Gerontology, History, International Relations, Law Enforcement, Non Profit Leadership, Political Science, Psychology, Social Studies, Social Work, Sociology, Urban & Regional Studies and Women's Studies.
Dr. William F. Wagner, long-time professor of Sociology & Corrections at Minnesota State Mankato, has served as interim dean of the college since 2004. He will return to teaching following a sabbatical leave.
"Bill served the College and the University well while we searched for a new dean," Olson said. "Thanks to his leadership, the College is poised to achieve a new level of excellence in teaching, learning and research."
Alessio earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from Southern Illinois University, an M.A. in Sociology from Eastern Illinois University, and a B.A. in Sociology from Loyola University of Chicago.
He has published papers in a number of professional journals including Social Psychology Quarterly, Journal of Marriage & Family, Social Forces, Journal of Psychology, and the American Sociological Review. He wrote and directed a funded grant for a curriculum transformation project to increase diversity and inclusiveness at St. Cloud State, and is co-developer of an interdisciplinary graduate program, MS in Social Responsibility.
He also is the author of two forthcoming books, with release dates set for late 2006 and early 2007.
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