Goodwin University Cabinet Membership

Mark Scheinberg
President

Mark E. Scheinberg is the founding president of Goodwin University in East Hartford, Connecticut, where he has provided the foresight, inspiration, and leadership that have transformed a small, career-focused business school into a nationally recognized, community-based, nonprofit organization of higher education, dedicated to serving those whom he calls “the undiscovered students” — working adults, first-generation college students, and learners from diverse backgrounds pursuing emerging careers.

A native of West Babylon, New York, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Elementary Education from Vassar College (1978), and attended graduate education courses at Dowling College (1979) and the University of Hartford (1986).

Mark has dedicated himself to enriching the broader community through a number of leadership roles. He has served on leadership committees of the Accrediting Commission of Independent Colleges and Schools (1997 Evaluator of the Year Award); the Capital Region Workforce Development Board; the Connecticut Employment and Training Commission; the Legislative Task Force on Allied Health; the Legislative Task Force on Teachers’ Professional Standards; the MetroHartford Alliance; and the Standing Advisory Committee to the Connecticut Board of Governors for Higher Education.

He has served on the boards of the Connecticut Council of Independent Colleges (executive board and treasurer); Connecticut Hospice (member); the East Hartford Chamber of Commerce (president); the Hartford Consortium for Higher Education (chair); Hartford Promise (member); the New England Board of Higher Education (member); ReadyCT (secretary and treasurer); the Young Presidents Organization’s International Board (International Forum chair). In 2018, he was appointed by the State of Connecticut to the New England Board of Higher Education. Mark has organized and presented at international leadership seminars in Johannesburg, London, Paris, Tibet, and Washington.

Mark’s work has been recognized by a wide range of community, educational, and entrepreneurial organizations. Among the honors he has received are the East Hartford Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award (1997); East Hartford Rotary Club Vocational Service Award (2007); Brazilian Alliance recognition for outreach to the Brazilian American community (2008); Hartford Magazine Greater Hartford’s 50 Most Influential People (2009 and 2010), My Sister’s Place Dream Makers Award (2009), Young Presidents Organization International Legacy Honor Award (2009); East Hartford Rotary Club Paul Harris Award (2011); East Hartford Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Award (2012); Hartford Business Journal Lifetime Achievement Award (2012); Connecticut Conference on Natural Resources Outstanding Environmental Leadership Award (2013), Urban League of Greater Hartford Business Excellence Award (2013); Connecticut Building Trades Public Service Award (2014), National Conference for Community and Justice Human Relations Award (2014); East Hartford St. Patrick’s Day Committee Irishman of the Year (2016), Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Laureate (2016), Young Presidents Organization Inclusive Business and Community Award (2016); Connecticut River Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year (2017), Hartford Courant Top Workplaces Outstanding Leadership Award (2017); Center for Children’s Advocacy Champion of Children Award (2019), Charter Oak Cultural Center Jewish Heritage Award (2019); Hartford Business Journal Power 50 Leader (2020 and 2021).

Mark has five children and 10 grandchildren, who together form the center of his life.

Todd Andrews
Senior Vice President

Todd Andrews has been with Goodwin University since 2005. As Senior Vice President, he is an integral part of campus master planning and the execution team. Todd oversees industry workforce development initiatives, real estate development, the University’s grant operations, community and government relations, and is in charge of the Goodwin University public magnet schools. Todd originally joined Goodwin as Director of Development & Grants and was responsible for the creation of the Office of Institutional Advancement, the Goodwin Foundation, and the Communications department.

Todd represents the University on a variety of community boards including: Capital Workforce Partners Board, East Hartford Working Cities Challenge “EH Connects” Board, and the Town’s Silver Lane Advisory Committee. Todd was recently appointed to the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) Hartford Region Covid-19 Long-Term Economic Recovery Steering Committee. He previously served on the Hartford Innovation Places Launc[H] founding Board of Directors, was founding Chairman of Integrated Health Services, and has also served as chairman for the Governor’s Coalition for Youth with Disabilities Board of Directors.

Prior to Goodwin, Todd was Vice President at the MetroHartford Alliance and an Economic Development Specialist with United Illuminating. He has also served in various neighborhood, community, and municipal development roles for the City of New Britain, Town of Enfield, and Town of East Hartford. Todd holds a master’s degree in Management from the University of Saint Joseph and has a B.S. in Business Administration from Eastern Connecticut State University. Todd is an East Hartford native, enjoys the outdoors, and lives in Newington with his wife, Anne Marie, and twin daughters, Katelyn and Megan.

Ann Clark
Provost Emerita

Ann Clark served as Goodwin’s Executive Vice President and Provost from the University’s 1999 inception until 2019, when she was named Provost Emerita. Before joining Goodwin, her career experience included more than 25 years in leadership and faculty roles in the private occupational business sector plus several years as a public high school English teacher. Ann holds a BA in English Education from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She served as a member of the Advisory Committee on Accreditation for the State of Connecticut from 2010 to 2013 and was a 2014 class member of Leadership Greater Hartford’s Summit Program for Advanced Leaders. In 2017, Ann won the Women in Business Leadership Award from the Hartford Business Journal. In 2019, she received the Honorary Alumna Award for leadership and unparalleled dedication to student success. Ann served on the Winding Trails Board of Directors from 2016-2019 and was elected Board President in 2019. Upon Ann’s retirement from Goodwin, the University added to her legacy by naming the Ann B. Clark Transitions Food Pantry in recognition of her years of support and dedication to this critical outreach program. The Food Pantry serves members of the Goodwin community facing food insecurity with support that is anonymous, accessible, and respectful.

Robert M. DeCrecenzo
General Counsel

Robert M. DeCrescenzo has been engaged in the private practice of law since 1987 except for the period between 1993 and 1997 when he served as Mayor of the Town of East Hartford. Upon his return to practice, Mr. DeCrescenzo has focused on the areas of municipal representation and commercial litigation.

Mr. DeCrescenzo has extensive experience in the representation of municipalities before public agencies and enjoys a statewide reputation in the areas of municipal advocacy, municipal tax appeals, economic development, housing, neighborhood revitalization and downtown revitalization. He has represented many of Connecticut’s municipalities, including Simsbury where he has been Town Counsel since 1998, Middletown, East Hartford, New Britain, Bridgeport and Manchester on matters ranging from interpretation of town ordinances and municipal employment issues, to matters of land use and zoning. He represents a number of clients with subsidized housing complexes including East Hartford, Manchester, Meriden and East Windsor. He also has substantial experience in municipal taxation issues including the methodology of assessing income restricted housing subject to government regulatory agreements. His knowledge of municipal law is applied to the many issues that arise in the course of representation of regulated industries (utilities) and companies in the fuel cell and alternative energy industry. Mr. DeCrescenzo is also General Counsel to the Capital Region Council of Governments.

Mr. DeCrescenzo is a former Majority Leader and member of the Glastonbury Town Council. He has served as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the Town of Wethersfield, and, in that capacity, he handled the town’s tax foreclosures, health and building code appeals and defended more than fifty municipal tax appeals (a dozen of which went to trial and decision). He also is a former member of the East Hartford Board of Education.

Mr. DeCrescenzo is actively involved in various professional and community associations where he has been recognized for his leadership role. He is the recipient of the Rotary Club International Paul Harris Fellow Award, the Anti- Defamation League Distinguished Community Service Award and the Capitol Region Council of Governments Distinguished Service Award. He served as a member of the East Hartford Board of Education and is Past Chairman of the Old State House. Currently, he is Vice Chair of Riverfront Recapture, Inc., President of the East Hartford Interfaith Ministries and the Manchester Community Technical College Foundation, Inc. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Main Street Plus, Inc. and the Science Center of Connecticut, Inc. He serves as a Fellow of the American Leadership Forum and is a member of the Connecticut and Hartford County Bar Associations.

Mr. DeCrescenzo received his J.D., with honors, from the University of Connecticut School of Law in Hartford, his M.A. in Public Affairs, with distinction and his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

Bryant Harrell
Senior Vice President

Bryant Harrell has been with Goodwin University since 1990 and oversees all aspects of facilities and technology. Bryant and his team play an integral role in the rapid expansion of Goodwin University and its campus.

Salvatore Menzo, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Goodwin Magnet Schools

Dr. Menzo completed his undergraduate degree at Connecticut College and the University of Sydney, and his master’s degree in Curriculum and his 6th year in Administration at the University of Connecticut. In 2008, he received his doctorate from the University of Connecticut. He started his career as an eighth grade language arts teacher in Willimantic. After completing his master’s degree, he was appointed assistant principal and principal of Silas Deane Middle School in Wethersfield. He was named Superintendent of the Marlborough Public School District in Connecticut in 2005 and Superintendent in the Wallingford Public School District in 2009. Dr. Menzo is committed to engaging community and staff in the development of a mastery-based learning approach for all students. Most notable among the accomplishments under his leadership are the 21st Century Innovation Team — a sabbatical program for teachers fully funded by local businesses, STEM Town Wallingford, and the employment pipeline programs. Key to Dr. Menzo’s success have been his community partnerships and passion for improving learning opportunities for students, staff, and parents.

Edwin J. Meyer, Jr.
Vice President for Finance

Edwin Meyer, Jr. CPA, holds a master’s degree in Accounting and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Fairfield University. With more than 14 years’ experience in the finance arena, Edwin has served as a Corporate Lending and Investment Grade product controller for UBS AG as well as an assurance auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers within their Registered Investment Companies and Alternative Asset Management divisions. As Chief Financial Officer at Goodwin University, Edwin oversees a team of finance professionals, accounting specialists, and financial aid representatives. Edwin currently lives in Wethersfield with his wife, Kathryn, and his four young daughters. He joined Goodwin in 2013.

Dan Noonan
SeniorVice President

Dan Noonan is a native of Waterbury, Connecticut, and the youngest of five children. He is a graduate of Charter Oak State College and completed his Master of Science degree in Management from the University of St. Joseph.

Currently serving as the Senior Vice President, Dan began his career with the University in May of 1996 when it was known as the Data Institute Business School. Initially working with the Career Services department, he understands the importance of helping our students find employment and believes that helping our students and graduates find work is one of the main outcomes of a Goodwin education. Since the summer of 1997, Dan has focused his work on admissions and marketing. Having been invited to speak about Goodwin’s enrollment success nationally, Dan frequently shares how the high touch enrollment process is one of the keys to school’s success. A highlight of each semester is when Dan engages with our students in his Social Media Marketing and Interpersonal Communications classes.

As the University has grown, Dan has played an important role in many change initiatives — transitioning from a business school to a two-year college, through the accreditation process with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, transitioning to a baccalaureate and master’s degree granting institution of higher education, and the implementation of two student information systems, as well as moving to our current campus location.

Michael J. Pardales, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Pardales has served the needs of adult learners in higher education for more than 20 years in various leadership capacities. He was Associate Professor and Chair of the Education Department at the University of Michigan—Flint; Dean of the School of Education and Human Services at Canisius College; and Vice President and Chief Learning Officer at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, where he introduced Universal Design for Learning principles into online course design. As Vice President for Academic Affairs at Goodwin, Dr. Pardales oversees all academic and student life program areas. He received his doctorate in Educational Psychology from Michigan State University in 2001, and also has degrees in Philosophy and Education. He has published articles in the areas of critical literacy, constructivist teaching and learning, and most recently as a member of a multi-author, scientific study of wastewater testing during the pandemic.

Melissa Quinlan, Ph.D.
Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness

Dr. Melissa “Missy” Quinlan joined Goodwin in 2016 and was appointed Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness in 2020. Missy brings a diverse array of experience as a researcher, data analyst, and educator. Her primary responsibilities include providing oversight to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Office of the Registrar, Online Studies, and the Center for Teaching Excellence. In addition, she ensures compliance with all state and federal regulatory agencies, including the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, the National Clearinghouse, and the Connecticut Office of Higher Education. Missy is responsible for guiding the institution in upholding accreditation standards at the regional and programmatic levels. Further, Missy has extensive expertise in the area of assessment, having improved Goodwin’s procedures through multiple innovations under her direction.

Missy holds a doctoral degree in Pedagogy and Teaching Administration from Springfield College. In addition, she holds a master’s degree in Education in Instruction and Curriculum and baccalaureate degrees in Exercise Science and Kinesiology, both from Southern Nazarene University.

Missy is a strong advocate for using data to inform decisions and strives to make complex information understandable and useable. Her research interests include youth development and higher education. Dr. Quinlan resides in southern Massachusetts with her wife and their two young children.

Jean White
Vice President for Human Resources

Jean White joined Goodwin University in November 2010. She is responsible for the strategic planning, execution, and oversight of all human resources activities for the University including employee relations, recruiting, benefits, compensation, and payroll. Jean has served in a variety of human resources and business operation roles during the last 20 years including positions at Cigna, Prudential Retirement, and Travelers. Jean earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and is pursuing a master’s degree in organizational psychology. In addition to her responsibilities in human resources, she has served as adjunct faculty in Goodwin’s Business Administration program, and holds workshops throughout the community on myriad topics such as diversity and inclusion, and strength-based leadership. Jean is passionate about helping people discover their unique gifts to develop their untapped potential. She is a member of the Human Resource Association of Central Connecticut and the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Diana LaRocco, Ed.D.
Dean of the School of Applied Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Dr. Diana J. LaRocco is Dean of the School of Applied Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Before coming to Goodwin, she held a full-time faculty position in the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at the University of Hartford in Hartford Connecticut for over 12 years. There she served as the major advisor for 50 completed dissertations examining issues in K-20 education. Among other doctoral level courses, she instructed children, families, and community; strategic planning; research methods; and instructional design. Diana also taught undergraduate courses in early childhood and 6th year courses in school administration.

While at the University of Hartford, Diana was the Director of the Center for Leadership in Education and Health in the Institute for Translational Research in the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions. She also served as Coordinator of Assessment. In service to the university, Diana was a member of the Human Subjects Committee, and the college’s academic standing and promotion and tenure committees.

Before coming to the University of Hartford, Diana was the Director of Research and Grants in the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (formerly the Department of Mental Retardation). Diana has over 29 years’ experience working in the field of developmental disabilities and has extensive experience as a special education teacher working with infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. She also administered a birth-to-three program in the Northwest area of Connecticut. Diana has been an active member of the International Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children for many years and has held several positions in DEC Governance. She is a past president and currently chairs the Policy and Advocacy Committee.

Diana’s research interests focus primarily on examining what can be characterized as new forms of shared leadership and three related areas of study: leveraging personal power, advocating, and collaborating. This type of leadership is not related to formal positions of power or authority, and it spans a variety of organizational settings, including schools (K-12), institutions of higher education, and public and not-for-profit human services organizations.

Diana earned her doctoral degree in Education from the University of Hartford. She also has a B.S. in Psychology and M.S. in Elementary Special Education from Central Connecticut State University and a 6th year in Administration and Supervision from the University of Hartford.

Nicholas Lentino
Assistant Vice President for Enrollment

Nick has been with Goodwin University in the Admissions Department since 2002. The spirit of the Goodwin community and the students the University serves are the biggest reasons why he finds Goodwin to be such a big part of his life.

Nick grew up in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and graduated from Providence College in 1996. He started interning for a local morning radio show shortly after graduation, becoming a producer of two morning shows at Radio 104 in Hartford. As exciting as it was to prepare a show to make the morning commute a more enjoyable drive for some in the greater Hartford area, after five years it was time to move on to and find something more rewarding.

Since then, Nick has worked as an Admissions Officer, Senior Admissions Officer, Assistant Director of Enrollment, Director of High School Admissions, and now Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Director of Admissions at the University.

Nick got married in October of 2010 to his wife, Jennifer, and has a son and daughter.

Clifford Thermer, Ed.D.
Assistant Vice President for Strategy and Business Development and Dean of the School of Business, Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing

Dr. Clifford E. Thermer is a 24-year veteran who served municipal and state police forces in a variety of patrol and administrative functions. He retired from state service at the rank of Lieutenant from the Office of Administrative Services as the Commandant of the State Police Academy and Educational Coordinator for the Department of Public Safety. His career includes 15 years developing training at the recruit, incumbent, supervisory, and management levels; implementing traditional and distance learning initiatives for personnel; overseeing staff development; acting as liaison with colleges and universities; and providing educational advising to personnel.

In 2010, Cliff joined Goodwin University as an associate professor and Director of the Organizational Studies Program and the Business Administration Program. His appointments include chair of the Department of Social Science, Business and Education (2011), Assistant Vice President of Strategy and Business Development (2013), and Dean of the School of Business, Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing (2020).

Cliff has taught at all levels of higher education including adjunct instructor at Middlesex Community College Criminal Justice Program; faculty in the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership and adjunct teacher in the Sociology Department at the University of Hartford; adjunct faculty at the Albertus Magnus College New Dimensions Program. He held positions at Quinnipiac University as Associate Director of the Organizational Leadership Program and Visiting Assistant Professor of Management in the Lender School of Business.

Sandra Ward
Assistant Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Development

Sandra Ward has served as the Director of Grants for Goodwin University since 2018. In this role, she and the grants team partner with all areas of the university to secure resources that promote the institution’s mission. The grants department manages over $8 million of federal, state, and private foundation funding. This role is Sandra’s second at Goodwin, having worked over a decade ago as the founding director of the Human Services Program. She brings to her role 25+ years of experience in nonprofit and public-sector environments; including youth training and employment and positive youth development programs, K-12 and higher education, psychiatric treatment settings, and cultural arts programs. She has expertise in partnership development and strategic planning at the organizational and systems-level. Over the course of her career, Sandra has led and collaborated on the design and launch of several innovative community-based and culturally relevant initiatives in the Greater Hartford area including community schools, youth violence intervention programs, and training institutes for youth development professionals and middle-management human service professionals. She holds a BA in English Literature and African American Studies from Trinity College, an MA in Cultural Anthropology from Temple University and an MSW from the University of Connecticut with a focus on Policy and Planning and Administration. Sandra and her husband Fredd call East Hartford home, where they live with their children Nathaniel and Cassidy, and dogs Jackson and Billie Jean.

Kim McGinnis, Ed.D.
Dean of Students

With more than 23 years of educational and administrative experience in higher education, Dr. Kim McGinnis serves as Goodwin’s Dean of Students. Previously, she served as the Dean of Student Services at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, Connecticut; Interim Vice President of Student Support Services at Long Beach City College; Vice President of Student Services at Monterey Peninsula College; and Dean of Student Services at Miami Dade College Medical Campus. Prior to that, she was Williamsburg Technical College’s eighth president and the College’s first woman president in Kingstree, SC. Other previous positions include Vice President of Continuing Education at James Sprunt Community College in Kenansville, NC; Director of Occupational Extension Training, Corporate and Community Education with Carteret Community College in Morehead City, NC; Dean of Technical and Vocational Programs at Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine, NC; and Horticulture Programs Department Head and Instructor also at Mayland.

Dr. McGinnis is a graduate of Leadership Greater Bridgeport and serves on multiple boards including the Bridgeport Public Education Fund, Junior Achievement Bridgeport Community Board and the Rotary Club of Bridgeport. She is active in the Bridgeport Regional Business Council and serves on the Board of the Women’s Leadership Council. She is actively involved with NASPA having completed the NASPA Higher Education Law and Policy Certificate and serving on the VPSA conference planning committee. Dr. McGinnis has received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges and was recognized as the Outstanding Faculty Member at Mayland Community College. She was selected as the Dallas Herring Fellow for the Future President’s Institute representing the North Carolina Community College System. She is past president of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges, NC Chapter, and received the Glass Ceiling Award from South Carolina’s Chapter of Women in Higher Education.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in landscape horticulture from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC; a Master of Arts degree in education from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC; a Master of Science in Psychology from Capella University; a Master of Science in Education Law from NOVA Southeastern University, and a Doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN.