{"id":12642,"date":"2025-10-27T13:20:58","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T17:20:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/?p=12642"},"modified":"2025-10-27T13:32:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T17:32:16","slug":"saint-peters-university-school-of-nursing-and-health-professions-names-interim-dean-ahead-of-new-program-accreditations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/27\/saint-peters-university-school-of-nursing-and-health-professions-names-interim-dean-ahead-of-new-program-accreditations\/","title":{"rendered":"Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University School of Nursing and Health Professions Names Interim Dean Ahead of New Program Accreditations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jersey City, N.J. \u2013 October 20, 2025 \u2013 <\/strong>Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Christina M. Mortellaro, Ph.D.<\/a> as the new Interim Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions. Dr. Mortellaro has been with Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s since 2007, most recently as Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs and Assessment.<\/p>\n

Dr. Mortellaro earned both a B.S. and M.S. degree in Biology from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a Ph.D. in Health Science from Seton Hall University. With nearly two decades of service to Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s, she has led the design and launch of both graduate and undergraduate health sciences programs, advanced major curriculum revisions including the University\u2019s Core Curriculum redesign, and strengthened the University\u2019s culture of continuous improvement through her leadership in institutional assessment.<\/p>\n

In her new role as Interim Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions, Dr. 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 Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University 2025\u20132028<\/a>, its commitment to academic excellence, its quest to position the University as a regional leader in healthcare education and to promote interdisciplinary innovation. With this expansion of our Nursing and Health Professions programs, the University is poised to broaden its educational footprint in health sciences, strengthen its value proposition, and support collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches to health education and workforce development.<\/p>\n

“Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s 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. Rooted in our Jesuit values of service, justice, and cura personalis, our programs empower students to approach healthcare not only as a profession, but as a calling to uphold human dignity and transform lives.” – Dr. Christina Mortellaro<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Program Accreditations<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s was recently notified by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)<\/a>that the CCNE Board of Commissioners has granted accreditation to our Baccalaureate degree program in nursing, our Post-Graduate APRN certificate program, and our Master\u2019s degree program in nursing at Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University for 10 years, extending to December 31, 2035. This reaffirmation represents a milestone achievement for the University and underscores the School\u2019s academic rigor, faculty excellence, and commitment to advancing professional nursing education.<\/p>\n

Additionally, Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University has applied for Accreditation – Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)<\/a>. Program Name anticipates matriculating its first class in January 2028, pending achieving Accreditation – Provisional status at the agenda. ARC-PA meeting. Accreditation – Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program\u2019s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.<\/p>\n

\n

<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Future of Nursing and Health Professions at Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s University<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s community welcomes Dr. Mortellaro in her new role and looks forward with anticipation to the expansion of the School of Nursing and Health Professions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am delighted to welcome and congratulate Dr. Mortellaro as the new Interim Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions. Her leadership, vision, and deep commitment to excellence in healthcare education come at a pivotal time for our university and our broader community. The expansion of the School of Nursing and Health Professions reflects not only the strength of our academic mission but also our unwavering commitment to serving the evolving healthcare needs of our region and state. This initiative is central to our strategic plan, in addition to providing educational opportunities that prepare students for high-demand careers while directly addressing critical workforce needs. This move is a foundation of our institution\u2019s value proposition and a vital contribution to the well-being of our communities.\u201d – Hubert Benitez, DDS, PhD, President, Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

# # end # #<\/p>\n

For more than 150 years, Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment. To learn more, please visit saintpeters.edu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jersey City, N.J. \u2013 October 20, 2025 \u2013 Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Christina M. Mortellaro, Ph.D. as the new Interim Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions. Dr. Mortellaro has been with Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s since 2007, most recently as Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1293,"featured_media":12667,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3,5,2,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-current-students","category-faculty-staff","category-future-students","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nÂ鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University School of Nursing and Health Professions Names Interim Dean Ahead of New Program Accreditations - News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/27\/saint-peters-university-school-of-nursing-and-health-professions-names-interim-dean-ahead-of-new-program-accreditations\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"dbocchino\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/27\/saint-peters-university-school-of-nursing-and-health-professions-names-interim-dean-ahead-of-new-program-accreditations\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/27\/saint-peters-university-school-of-nursing-and-health-professions-names-interim-dean-ahead-of-new-program-accreditations\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"dbocchino\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/e34d0022b2f64ab992c01054c76a4ab2\"},\"headline\":\"Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University School of Nursing and Health Professions Names Interim Dean Ahead of New Program Accreditations\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-27T17:20:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-27T17:32:16+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/27\/saint-peters-university-school-of-nursing-and-health-professions-names-interim-dean-ahead-of-new-program-accreditations\/\"},\"wordCount\":826,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/27\/saint-peters-university-school-of-nursing-and-health-professions-names-interim-dean-ahead-of-new-program-accreditations\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/230\/files\/2025\/10\/Christina-Mortellaro-Ph.D.-scaled_540x830_acf_cropped-e1761585645684.jpeg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Alumni\",\"Current Students\",\"Faculty Staff\",\"Future Students\",\"Press Release\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/27\/saint-peters-university-school-of-nursing-and-health-professions-names-interim-dean-ahead-of-new-program-accreditations\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/27\/saint-peters-university-school-of-nursing-and-health-professions-names-interim-dean-ahead-of-new-program-accreditations\/\",\"name\":\"Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University School of Nursing and Health Professions Names Interim Dean Ahead of New Program Accreditations - 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