New Arts & Science College Announced At Rider University Lawrenceville

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Two existing colleges will merge to create a new College of Arts and Sciences at Rider University, officials announced. The restructuring will take effect on July 1.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will merge with the Westminster College of the Arts.

The new college will consist of four schools, of which three are new - Westminster Choir College, the School of Media and Performing Arts, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the School of Science, Technology and Mathematics.

“The creation of the new college will enable greater faculty and student connections across the University’s programs and more interdisciplinary opportunities for students,” Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs DonnaJean A. Fredeen, said in a statement.

Kelly Bidle has been appointed dean of the newly created College of Arts and Sciences. Bidle joined the faculty as a biology professor in 2001 and has served as the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, since 2019.

“Dr. Bidle has brought a commitment to excellence to dozens of academic disciplines, and I have complete confidence in her abilities to lead the new College of Arts and Sciences,” Fredeen says.

Other appointments include two associate deans, Brooke Hunter and Jason Vodicka. Hunter is currently an associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and an associate professor of history. An alumnus of Westminster Choir College, as well as a singer, conductor and organist, Vodicka, is currently the chair of the Choir College’s Department of Music Education and an associate professor of music education.

“We are extraordinarily lucky to have both Dr. Vodicka and Dr. Hunter on our leadership team,” Bidle said. “They are each uniquely suited to contribute towards helping Rider thrive in the years to come, all the while preserving and carrying on important legacies and traditions of our programs across the arts and science disciplines.”

Marshall Onofrio, who has served as dean of the Westminster College of the Arts since 2017, announced his retirement in August.

The decision will also help preserve the unique identity of Westminster Choir College, which was integrated into Rider's Lawrenceville campus in 2020, officials said. The University has invested more than $12 million into facilities and other accommodations to support Westminster students and faculty.

The merger is also expected to reduce expenses and save money — about $500,000 annually, based on initial estimates, Fredeen said.