Montgomery County Community College: MCCC Welcomes New Deans

Press release from the Montgomery County Community College:

Diane VanDyke

July 13, 2021

Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) is pleased to announce the appointment
of three deans following competitive, nationwide searches. Dr. Timothy Brown is the
Dean of the Liberal Arts Division, Cheryl DiLanzo is the Dean of the Health Sciences
Division and Terence Lynn is the Dean of the Business & Professional Studies Division.

As the new Dean of the Liberal Arts Division, Brown, of West Chester, brings an extensive
portfolio of teaching, scholarship, service, and leadership to MCCC. He formerly served
as the Dean of the James L. Knight School of Communication at the Queens University
of Charlotte where he oversaw the division and facilitated the school’s program and
curriculum development.­­­­ Prior this role, Brown was a professor of Communication
and chair of the Department at West Chester University.

Throughout his career, Brown has mentored students and supported faculty in their
commitment to academic excellence. In recognition of his work, he was named a Distinguished
Teaching Fellow and a Distinguished Research Fellow by the Eastern Communication Association
and a Drum Major for Justice by West Chester University’s Frederick Douglass Society.
In addition, he was the co-founder of WCU’s Faculty Mentoring Program and the Multicultural
Faculty Commission. Furthermore, Brown has been a motivational speaker and workshop
presenter on leadership skills for the Federal Government's Leadership Assessment
Program.

Born and raised in Coatesville, PA, Brown is a first-generation college graduate who
received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Communication Studies
from West Chester University and his Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Public Address from Ohio
University.

As the new Dean of the Health Sciences Division, DiLanzo, of North Wales, PA brings
more than 18 years of experience at MCCC to the position. During her career, she demonstrated
her passion and commitment to student success in various capacities, including full-time
Radiography faculty, clinical coordinator, and Director of the Radiography Program.
In each role, DiLanzo achieved tremendous success in program development and growth
and in supporting students towards their academic and professional goals.

During the past year, DiLanzo served as the temporary Dean of Health Sciences, overseeing
all programs in the division as well as several non-credit health programs. During
the challenges of the pandemic, she fostered a collaborative environment, maintaining
positive morale. She led and supported the transition of all the clinical programs
to a fully remove learning environment and then coordinated the safe return to campus.
She also played a vital role in advocating for students to continue their clinical
experiences to fulfill their learning requirements.

DiLanzo has not only demonstrated the ability to lead during a crisis, but she also
has been an excellent asset to the academic leadership team, working creatively and
collaboratively to further MCCC’s vision and strategic goals. She has led efforts
to incorporate and promote the use of virtual reality, advanced technology, and simulation
in health science programs and is leading ongoing efforts to map non-credit to develop
new pathways and stackable credentials for students interested in health professions.

DiLanzo earned her Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology from Thomas Jefferson
University and a Master of Science in Allied Health Education from the University
of Pennsylvania.

As the new Dean of the Division of Business and Professional Studies, Lynn, of Budd
Lake, NJ, brings extensive academic, administrative and leadership experience to this
role. He began his career as an adjunct psychology faculty, and he has served as a
visiting and assistant professor of psychology. He subsequently transitioned to the
administrative roles of director, assistant dean, and dean of Business and Professional
Studies. His achievements in each role demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of
the community college mission and commitment to fostering student success, advocating
for faculty, and nurturing diverse student populations.

Lynn holds a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from Thomas Edison State University,
a Master of Education in Psychology from Cambridge College and CAGS in Counseling
and Human Relations from Suffolk University. He also has a certificate in Investigative
Psychology from The John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where he also taught and
oversaw the psychological training program for the New York Police Department Negotiation
Team. In addition, he is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor.

Lynn currently is in the process of defending his doctoral dissertation in Educational
Studies from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

The deans are part of MCCC’s restructuring of the academic divisions, which now includes
the Workforce and Economic Development Division. Kyle Longacre of Harleysville was
appointed Dean of this division in April.

Longacre has more than 25 years of education and workforce experience, with 13 years
in significant leadership roles. He has served for six years on the Montgomery County
Workforce Board, three and a half years as head of the youth workforce program, MontcoWorks
NOW, and three years as the chairperson of the Montgomery County Youth Workforce Committee.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Secondary Education from Goshen
College and a Master of Educational Administration from Gwynedd Mercy College. He
has completed three years of doctoral course work in Educational Leadership at Lehigh
University.

The new academic leaders will be joining Dr. James Bretz, who is the Dean of Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics since 2018. Bretz joined MCCC in 2009 as an
instructor of Microbiology, and he was promoted to assistant professor in 2013. He
served as the interim dean of STEM during 2017 until he was appointed as dean in 2018.
Bretz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from
Penn State University and a Ph.D. in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics from the
University of Maryland.

This press release was produced by the Montgomery County Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.