NEW YORK–Columbia University School of Professional Studies Dean Dr. Jason Wingard announced on November 25, 2015 the appointment of Dr. Sharyn O’Halloran as the next Senior Vice Dean and Chief Academic Officer of the School of Professional Studies. Dr. O’Halloran is the George Blumenthal Professor of Political Economy and Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. The appointment is effective on January 1, 2016.
“The hiring of Dr. O’Halloran introduces an increased focus on quality in professional programming at the School,” Wingard said. “Dr. O’Halloran’s academic leadership and demonstrated focus on innovation, faculty, and students represents the ideal senior profile to further advance the success of the School in providing best-in-class educational offerings for professionals seeking market-driven degrees and academic offerings.”
At Columbia University, Dr. O’Halloran is currently the Chair of the Columbia University Senate’s Executive Committee where she chaired the Global Initiatives Taskforce highlighting the challenges and opportunities for an expanding global footprint, and the Online Learning Taskforce exploring the role of online education at Columbia University. She also directs the Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis program at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and serves on the Board of Directors for Community Impact at Columbia University.
Dr. O’Halloran completed a bachelor’s in Economics and Political Science, as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Political Science from University of California, San Diego. She has authored several books and articles on policy and regulation, including Politics, Process and American Trade Policy and The Future of the Voting Rights Act.
“I am honored to continue my service to professional learners at the School of Professional Studies,” remarked Dr. O’Halloran. “The School is the leading institution for interdisciplinary programming that responds to the challenges of a transformed global marketplace. My key objective as Senior Vice Dean and Chief Academic Officer will be to deepen the focus on academic quality across all educational offerings, while improving faculty support and student outcomes.”
Columbia’s School of Professional Studies currently offers fourteen master's degrees, a comprehensive portfolio of pre-professional, postbaccalaureate, and life-long learning programs, and interdisciplinary research centers. By offering market-leading degree programs across disciplines, such as Actuarial Science, Applied Analytics, Bioethics, Sports Management, and Sustainability Management, the School is uniquely positioned to meet the diverse professional education needs of top recent graduates, successful mid-career professionals, and accomplished executives.
About Columbia University
Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.
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