Dr. Francesca Catalano joins the Castleton family as our new Dean of the College of Health and Sciences. Dr. Catalano comes to us from Kankakee Community College in Illinois, where she was associate dean of math, science, and engineering. She brings an abundance of skills and experience, including curriculum development, assessment, accreditation, college readiness, community outreach, and grant writing.
Dr. Catalano jumped on Zoom to answer a few questions about her interests as well as her new role at Castleton. Here’s what she had to say.
Could you tell us a little bit about your background?
"So, I am originally from Chicago. We've moved around quite a bit over the years, and I've actually lived in Vermont previously. I have a Ph.D. in molecular biology, microbial genetics, and I also have a medical technology degree. So I have a little bit of health and a little bit of science in me, and I am a first-generation college student. … So, I understand a lot of the struggles of first-generation college students and the importance of access to education. … I'm also a medical technologist, and I have a JD, though I don't practice law. … I have a strong passion for education. I've been in education for 20 years as an adjunct instructor, as a professor of science, and then probably the last seven or eight, nine years as an administrator, associate dean, and then this position as dean."
Do you have any pets or hobbies?
"I do have pets. We have four dogs, so they are all rescues. We rescue older dogs or dogs with special needs, and they have a very special place in my heart. I call them my 'old men dogs.' And as far as hobbies go, I am an avid reader. I love to read fiction, a lot of horror fiction, kind of anything from Stephen King on … I try to use my reading time as a sort of decompression. I like to call it my brain candy. So just kind of fun, kind of scary stuff to just sort of get my creative juices flowing away from some of this work-related stuff that I read."
What's your favorite book?
"It can vary from month to month. I will say probably my all-time favorite book is "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." It really made me fall in love with Savannah, Georgia, which I had to go visit after I read the book, but it really varies. I'm so interested in reading at any given time; I'm probably reading five or six different books. On average, I read about 500 books a year."
What do you look forward to the most in your new role?
"I look forward to the experience of learning and really understanding the community, the culture, the faculty, the staff, the students, and integrating into that, and understanding what I can do to better serve the University and help our students compete and go get those fantastic jobs. So I mean, I understand that there's a lot of learning which might be counterintuitive for this position, but I embrace that eagerly, and I look forward to the challenges, and I'll celebrate all of our successes as a team."
What do you see as the strengths of the College of Health and Sciences?
"One of the things I really love just about the title of the College of Health and Sciences is the understanding that health careers are science. And, sometimes you don't see that at different colleges and universities. So that integration of those two disciplines for me creates this continuity of experience for students. I think it best supports the faculty and the staff that work within those particular areas, and it really provides an opportunity to build a very strong experience for our students and get them educated and out there into the workforce. … Another strength I see is really the faculty. I'm truly impressed by the breadth of knowledge and the accomplishments of the faculty. I really look forward to working with them and learning from them, and as a team really moving toward developing additional programs. … It's so important that we have qualified students that are graduating to working these health careers. It's also equally as important that we continue to educate people with basic science and critical thinking to counteract some of the misconstrued ideas and confusions that are out there today. So those are two other things that I really feel passionate about the disciplines, and I look forward to joining that team."
What attracted you to Castleton?
"So wow, where to start. It's kind of like my dream job, the opportunity to move back to Vermont is part of it, but most importantly, I believe that Castleton University has an intentional and concrete commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, which is something I'm truly passionate about, and I also recognize the value that the University plays for the community. The role that it plays in educating first-generation students and students who might be economically disadvantaged, giving them that access, that ability to achieve their American dream, and that's everything to me. That is why I'm an educator."
What do you hope to accomplish in your first year?
"I want to continue the great work that's ongoing. For example, what the Nursing program has done in developing that master's program. I want to continue access for high school students, maybe bridge that better into the University Nursing program. I want to really understand the breadth of programs we have, so it's really like a listening time for me. I really think it's important to integrate myself into the community to see where I can best serve and facilitate."
What's your favorite TV show?
"My favorite TV show is anything with Gordon Ramsay in it. I love Gordon Ramsay. I actually met him once when we were on a screening of Kitchen Nightmares, but I'm also absolutely obsessed with college football. So I will watch that all day long."
So, what's your favorite team?
"My favorite team is LSU Fighting Tigers."
*Editor’s note: We'll look past this - just this one time.
Wait, what?
"Who's your team? Oh gosh, no ask me again. My favorite team is the Castleton Spartans."
*Editor’s note: Correct!
"... so my favorite Gordon Ramsay show would be 'Kitchen Nightmares,' and I say that tongue-in-cheek because we used to own a restaurant. We actually used to own a restaurant in Rutland. So the thought of Gordon Ramsay going to a restaurant gives me anxiety because I would be like, ‘Oh my God, Gordon Ramsay's here’. Of course, my restaurant would never be on ‘Kitchen Nightmares,’ but I find him to be inspiring as a chef but also being engaging and charismatic as a TV host. So I enjoy all of his stuff."
What gets you excited for work in the morning?
"What gets me excited for work in the morning is knowing that the work we do literally affects lives. It changes people's futures. It gives access to students that may not have access to university education and it is inspiring to me. I love being an educator. I think I could have done anything, but I wanted to be a teacher and I wanted to be an administrator and I want to help people learn and achieve those dreams, especially underrepresented groups or students who are first gen. college students. So, that inspires me every day, and I love what I do… I would just like to say that I'm super excited to be here at Castleton University, and I can't wait to meet you all in person and to get on the business of education.”