Manhattan College Names Marcy Kelly, Ph.D., Dean of the New Kakos School of Arts and Sciences
Kelly joined Manhattan College in 2022 as dean of the Kakos School of Science.
Manhattan College today announced the appointment of Marcy Kelly, Ph.D., as dean of the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences. The newly restructured school combines the former School of Liberal Arts, the Kakos School of Science, the School of Health Professions, and the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. It is now the largest of the three schools at the College, which also includes the School of Engineering and the O’Malley School of Business. 
Kelly joined Manhattan College in 2022 as dean of the Kakos School of Science, having previously served as the department chair and professor of biology at Pace University’s Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. At Manhattan, she has prioritized undergraduate research, including a focus on the Summer Scholars Program; co-created the First Year Experience course, which advises students using a holistic, strategic caseload management model; developed the Teaching and Learning Ambassador’s Workshop and Residency program to engage faculty in best practices in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) teaching and learning; and assisted in creating a major in Game Design and Production.
Looking ahead, Kelly stated, “I am honored to continue the work in building a community of scholars and augmenting the student experience in teaching and learning. To guide our trajectory, we will work collaboratively to create a unified vision for this new school. In keeping with the Manhattan College tradition in all our schools, the new Kakos School of Arts and Sciences will maintain a student-centered approach to education.”
“With the strong leadership of Dean Kelly, the foundational elements are in place for a robust and transformative educational experience for students and faculty of the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences,” said Manhattan College President Milo Riverso ’81, Ph.D., P.E., “The vision of the school will continue to focus on the development of innovative academic programing and research opportunities for students, as well as the enhancement of our teaching and research facilities.”
According to Kelly, “the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences will provide students with a unique opportunity to scaffold their disciplinary passions within a framework of the humanities, arts, natural sciences, social sciences, and mathematics. This will help students broaden their critical thinking skills, creative inquiry skills, and social and cultural awareness.”
Kelly received her bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of Buffalo, and her Ph.D. in microbiology and molecular genetics from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.