April 4, 2018 — Following a national search, Marist College has named molecular ecologist Alicia Slater as the new Dean of the School of Science. Dr. Slater will assume her role on July 1. 

Slater comes to Marist from Stetson University in Florida, where she was Professor and Chair of Biology as well as Director of Curriculum and Assessment. While biology chair, she also led the Health Sciences Department, and she held the endowed Hollis Chair of Health and Wellness, which included responsibility for overseeing retention efforts of students in STEM majors.

As Stetson’s Director of Curriculum and Assessment, she served as a member of the Provost’s Cabinet and oversaw general 

education and program-level assessment for Stetson’s College of Arts & Sciences, College of Law, School of Business, and School of Music. She is credited with improving student performance and retention while instituting powerful advances in curriculum, tutoring, and advising. In her fifteen-year career at the University, she received Stetson’s Hand Award for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity, and numerous "First Year-Student Advocate" awards.   

“Marist is thrilled to welcome Dr. Slater,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs Thomas Wermuth. “Her background as both a scientist and dedicated administrator makes her perfectly suited to this important leadership position in our growing School of Science.” 

Slater’s research interests include the scholarship of teaching and learning, particularly learner-centered pedagogies. As a scientist, she has published in peer-reviewed journals on geographic distribution of and genetic variation in freshwater invertebrates. In addition to research grants from state agencies, she has received several grants from the National Science Foundation, including an International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship to study stream insect population genetics in Australia. 

Slater holds a B.S. in biology from Georgia Institute of Technology and M.S. and Ph.D. in biology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

About Marist 

Located on the banks of the historic Hudson River and at its Florence, Italy campus, Marist College is a comprehensive, independent institution grounded in the liberal arts. Its mission is to “help students develop the intellect, character, and skills required for enlightened, ethical, and productive lives in the global community of the 21st century.” Marist is consistently recognized for excellence by The Princeton Review (Colleges That Create Futures and The Best 381 Colleges), U.S. News & World Report (9th Best Regional University/North), Kiplinger’s Personal Finance (“Best College Values”), and others. Though now independent, Marist remains committed to the ideals handed down from its founders, the Marist Brothers: excellence in education, a sense of community, and a commitment to service. Marist educates approximately 5,000 traditional-age undergraduate students and 1,400 adult and graduate students in 47 undergraduate majors and 15 graduate programs, including fully online MBA, MPA, MS, and MA degrees. www.marist.edu