Gerald Koocher, dean of the College of Science and Health, will step down from his role at DePaul, effective Sept. 1. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)
After serving as dean of the College of Science and Health (CSH)
for the past five years, Gerald Koocher will step down this fall to become the first provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Quincy College.
On becoming dean, Koocher worked closely with DePaul's chancellor and former president, the Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, C.M., to develop the CSH business plan, which led to the significant growth in the college; oversee the build out of new lab space in McGowan South, and develop the college's Pathways Program with Rosalind Franklin University Medical School. During his tenure, the School of Nursing grew from two admission cycles per year to four. In addition, a nursing program was established at Rosalind Franklin. He also taught in the Psychology Department and started a summer Dean's Undergraduate Fellowship Program.
"As many people know, my spouse of 45 years did not want to relocate to Chicago and remained in Massachusetts, making me a frequent weekend commuter over the last five years," Koocher says. "When I received an unanticipated offer to join and assist Quincy College, she enthusiastically encouraged me to 'move home.' I will very much miss the friends I have made at DePaul, and I value the important mission of the university and the spirit of Vincentian ideals."
Before joining DePaul, Koocher was a professor of psychology, health sciences dean and associate provost at Simmons College (Boston). He previously served as chief psychologist at Boston Children's Hospital and Judge Baker Children's Center, and as executive director of the Linda Pollin Institute at Harvard Medical School. He remains affiliated as a senior associate in psychology at Boston Children's Hospital and lecturer in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
"As the first permanent dean for CSH, Dean Koocher helped build the foundation that will serve the college into the future," Provost Marten denBoer says. "I thank him for his leadership and wish him well as he returns home."
Koocher will serve as CSH dean until Sept. 1, 2018. DenBoer plans to share information about an interim dean appointment and the dean search timeline soon.