President D'Emilio to Serve as Chair for Atlantic East Conference Presidents' Council
By Greg Gornick
Lancaster, Pa. - (7/20/2022) - Officially announced Tuesday, July 19, by league office, Gwynedd Mercy University President Deanne H. D'Emilio, JD, was selected to succeed Neumann University President Dr. Chris Domes as the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Presidents' Council Chair. D'Emilio's term officially began on July 1, 2022.
"I am honored and excited to assume the chair of the Atlantic East President's Council," said D'Emilio. "I am looking forward to building upon the strong foundation that has been established by our Conference and especially want to thank Dr. Chris Domes for his steady leadership of the President's Council during these last two unprecedented years. As we move forward, we will continue to focus on the well-being of our student-athletes and their holistic educational experience, and the continued strengthening of the Atlantic East Conference."
As chair, D'Emilio is joined on the AEC Presidents' Council by Past Chair Dr. Domes and Immaculata University President Barbara Lettiere, who will serve as the Vice Chair. The AEC Presidents' Council and Chair is charged with the final review and overall maintenance for the conference's governance, general policy, and annual budget.
D'Emilio became the sixth President of Gwynedd Mercy University on August 1, 2017. Prior to her current appointment, she served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at fellow Mercy-sponsored institution, Carlow University. There, she oversaw a reorganization of the University's academic structure while developing a strategic plan, strengthening programs, promoting interdisciplinary approaches, implementing process improvements, and optimizing resources. Among the programs she created, the Online and Digital Learning program has forged corporate partnerships with various healthcare and education-based business.
Prior to her role as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, D'Emilio served as the University's Dean of the School of Management and Dean of the Graduate School. She began her career in higher education as the chair of the Legal Studies program and Associate Academic Dean and Division Chair of Humanities, Social Science, and Professional Studies at another fellow Mercy-sponsored institution, Mount Aloysius College. D'Emilio presented to the Association of American Colleges and Universities on the restructuring of general education at Carlow University and served as an Arbitraitor of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County.
D'Emilio earned her bachelor's degree in education from Westminster College (PA), her master's degree in higher education and student affairs from Bowling Green State University, and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Law.