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Scalise-Smith, Rafes Take on New Roles at UC

Former Dean to Head New Nursing Initiative

Written By Victoria Cruz-Griffith '12, PR Intern

Contact - cleogrande@utica.edu

Utica, NY (11/18/2011) - Dr. Dale Scalise-Smith, dean of the School of Health Professions and Education at Utica College, has been appointed special assistant to the president. Dr. Richard Scott Rafes has been named interim dean of the School of Health Professions and Education.

In her new role, Scalise-Smith will have oversight of the administrative tasks for establishing a new accelerated nursing degree program at the college.

President Todd S. Hutton said, “Dale is ideally and uniquely qualified to perform the responsibilities of her new position. This initiative is complex, and as such, requires the full-time attention of an academic administrator with her skills and experience.”

This program, Hutton said, will further UC’s mission in answering the call for more nurses.

Nursing faculty have been working for the past six to eight months to reorganize the nursing curriculum so that its content can be delivered in both traditional and non-traditional settings. The accelerated program would be designed primarily for “career changers” who have already earned a degree in a discipline outside of nursing. The program would be an intensive 16-month session. It has been modeled after programs at other universities and would allow students to become clinically trained nurses in a short length of time.

Scalise-Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Northeastern University. She attended the University of North Carolina for her master’s in physical therapy and for her Ph.D. in education, with an emphasis in pediatric motor control and learning.

Rafes enters his new role with more than 30 years in higher education. Rafes earned a bachelor’s degree in government from Lamar University and holds two doctoral degrees. He earned a doctor of jurisprudence degree from the University of Houston, and also earned a doctor of philosophy degree in higher education administration from the University of North Texas at Denton.   

Rafes served as senior vice president of administration for the University of North Texas, president of East Central University, and president of West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.  Most recently, he was special assistant and policy advisor to the chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. He held that position until June of this year.  After his presidency, he became a member of the Registry for College and University Presidents. As a member, his duties include serving in interim positions at institutions of higher education as well as consulting, as assigned.