Fordham Welcomes New Assistant Dean
Catherine McGlade earned her doctorate from Queen’s University in Belfast. (Courtesy of Catherine McGlade for The Fordham Ram)
Catherine McGlade, Ed.D., became the new assistant dean for student involvement at Fordham in May 2022. She is originally from the North Bronx and Yonkers border and attended high school in the Bronx.
Dr. McGlade is already familiar with Fordham.
“Fordham is where it all began for me in higher education. It gave me great academic roots and roots for life,” said McGlade.
In the ’90s, she came to Fordham College at Rose Hill as a commuter student and later moved on campus as a resident assistant. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1995.
Afterwards, she got her master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) in 1999 and then a second master’s degree in Education and Counseling in 2006 both at Fordham Lincoln Center’s Graduate School of Education. In 2021, she received her doctorate in education from Queen’s University of Belfast in Northern Ireland with a dissertation on international student adjustment in higher education.
As assistant dean for student involvement, she is well versed in what it means to balance education and co-curricular activities. After graduating from Fordham College at Rose Hill, she went to teach in Seoul, South Korea, for a year. “I knew that I really enjoyed teaching, as well as my student affairs background,” said McGlade.
She then came back as a residential director at Lincoln Center, which is where she worked to obtain her master’s degree from the Graduate School of Education.
It was always that academic, career and co-curricular together, said McGlade.
Before coming back to work at Fordham, McGlade also worked in a Brooklyn high school, where she earned her professional counseling license.
“I enjoyed working with students and utilizing Fordham’s education and guidance counseling particularly,” said McGlade.
“As an alum, I have stayed connected to the community,” said McGlade. “I have never really felt far from Fordham. I have always felt like part of the Fordham community and family.”
Since she wanted to come back to higher education, Fordham was the perfect opportunity, explained McGlade.
She is excited to get a chance to work with students who are leading and learning with the co-curricular experience since she works in the Office of Student Involvement (OSI).
OSI has partners and services that are offered to students, such as Orientation, First Year Formation, Commuter Student Services and student clubs, which McGlade is also looking forward to leading.
McGlade wants to “partner with them to help them shape their experiences with the services we have and continue to build upon many of the successes we have had and also embrace the areas we need to continue to improve as we move forward during this moment at Fordham.”
Along with the new role she is in, McGlade is glad to be back at Fordham.
“I am so delighted to be a part of a university that embraces Jesuit ideals and Jesuit pedagogy… It is a unique place to be and work every day… The Jesuit mission is something that I think is the fabric of who we are as a community. It is wonderful to be part of it as an alum and as a professional now.” Overall, McGlade wants to emphasize that she is here for students.
“I invite students to let us know how we are doing and come by. My door is open, and come say hello to the team. Let us know how we can help students get involved.… I want to emphasize the opportunity for students to share their vision and share their feedback.” McGlade looks forward to getting to know the Fordham student body.
Emma Kim is a junior from Pittsburgh. She is double majoring in economics and English. She started as a contributing writer for news in her freshman year...
James • Oct 8, 2022 at 7:50 am
My memories of Cathy McGlade date 20 years ago when I was a student at Fordham. With the benefit of hindsight and adulthood to re-assess my classmates’ interactions with this person, it’s remarkable she was able to avoid legal consequences given the predatory behaviors she exhibited on young adults on a constant basis. For example, one student in the dorms self-reported suicide ideation, and Cathy McGlade then required her to have weekly meetings with her in which she was coerced into sharing insights about other students’ alcohol and drug use. She has no ethics. Fordham should absolutely be ashamed for putting a person like this back in a position of authority over anyone, much less over young adults.
Victoria • Oct 31, 2022 at 7:57 pm
Hi, I’m another student journalist here at Fordham who wants to report on your side of the story. If you’re interested, please email me at vbroadbent @ fordham.edu.
Bryn • Oct 7, 2022 at 11:24 pm
Cathy McGlade was the worst part of my time at FCLC. For those who did not experience her reign of terror, please refer to Agatha Trunchbull & the chokey. She derived her sense of self from the wanton abuse of her authority, and doled out punishments in an unethical and brutal manner. Hiring Cathy as the assistant dean was a woefully poor choice for Fordham.
Jared • Sep 24, 2022 at 6:29 am
Goodness. Many of us remember Cathy McGlade vividly as having a punishment fetish. She most certainly did not reflect Jesuit values or common decency.
Sparkles McDathers • Oct 7, 2022 at 4:46 pm
Jared- you should join our support group. We meet Wednesdays at 7 pm. We drink lighter fluid and try to block out the memories of waking up with her standing over us after using the master key to let herself into our rooms, or being forced to sit in her office until we said we trusted her.