Date: April 17, 2012
Contact: Eric Matanyi
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-4044
Email: ematanyi@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
Governors State University Appoints New College of Health and Human Services Dean
University Park, Illinois, April 17, 2012 - Governors State University announced the appointment of Dr. Elizabeth Cada as Dean of the university’s College of Health and Human Services today. The appointment is effective immediately.
“I look forward to building on the college’s already strong foundation,” said Cada. “We will continue to develop programs that best prepare students for successful careers and meet the needs of the communities we serve.”
Cada served for fifteen years as Chair of GSU’s Department of Occupational Therapy. During the current academic year, she has acted as Interim Dean of the college.
Governors State President Elaine Maimon commented, “Dr. Cada shaped the Occupational Therapy Department into a true point of pride for the university. This year as Interim Dean of CHHS, Dr. Cada has demonstrated excellence in the leadership of the college as a whole and was selected for the permanent position after a competitive national search.”
Cada most recently served as Chair of GSU’s Department of Occupational Therapy. University Provost Terry Allison noted that Cada’s record of scholarship, university teaching, professional service, and her overall academic achievement led to her selection.
“Dr. Cada possesses a background rich in both education and real-world experience. She embodies the spirit and determination needed to successfully lead the College of Health and Human Services,” said Allison.
Additional academic experience includes adjunct faculty positions at Loyola University’s Erickson Institute and the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a licensed and certified occupational therapist and has provided services to Pediatric Rehabilitation Services, the DuPage/West Cook Regional Special Education Association, Downers Grove South High School, and Misericordia Home South.
She has served as President of the National Certification Board for Occupational Therapy and held leadership roles in the American Occupational Therapy Association. Cada was a public member of the Council for Clinical Certification Board in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech and Hearing Association, and currently serves on the Roster of Accreditation Evaluators for Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.
Cada earned her bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University. She holds a Master of Science in Organizational Behavior from George Williams College and Doctor of Education in Adult and Higher Education from Northern Illinois University.
“Dr. Cada has the desire to foster and support diversity among the faculty and students, said Dr. Annie Lawrence Brown, Cada’s mentor and former chair of GSU’s academic division encompassing nursing, communication disorders, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. “She has the strengths to implement innovative new programs to best meet the needs of the surrounding communities.”
For more information on the College of Health and Human Services at GSU, visit www.govst.edu/chhs.
