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.