Franklin Pierce University announces new provost and deans 

Franklin Pierce University announced Wednesday the appointment of an Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs as well as four deans of the university’s new academic organization.

Dr. David Starrett has been appointed Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Sarah Dangelantonio as Executive Dean for Assessment and Academic Affairs, Dr. Maria Altobello as Dean of the College of Health and Natural Sciences, Dr. Norman Faiola as Dean of the College of Business and Dr. Matthew Konieczka as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

This senior administrative team brings together experienced educators from within and outside Franklin Pierce University to implement the new academic structure.

“I am excited to work with these strong leaders as partners in advancing our mission in the coming year. Organizing academic programs by related graduate and undergraduate disciplines prioritizes seamless faculty connections and curricular pathways for our students. Renaming our Colleges gives prominence to our growing programs and helps students and prospective students find their place and their passions at Franklin Pierce. We continue to prioritize advising and mentorship, internships and opportunities for experiential learning that lead to job opportunities for our students,” said President Kim Mooney.

Starrett is an experienced academic administrator, whose most recent appointment was at Columbia College in Missouri, where he served as Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. Starrett earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology at the  University of California Los Angeles, and his B.S. in Biology at the University of Southern California.

Dangelantonio joined Franklin Pierce University in 1990 as an assistant professor, and has been a Professor of English since 2000. She has served as Division Chair for Humanities, Chair for the General and Liberal Education Committee, and served on the Faculty Affairs Committee. Between 2008-2016, she was the Eastern Regent, member of the Board of Directors, and President for Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society. In 2018, she received Sigma Tau Delta’s Elaine W. Hughes Outstanding Chapter Sponsor Award. Dangelantonio earned her Ph.D. in English at the University of Georgia, her M.A. in English at St. Louis University and her B.A. in English at Spring Hill College.

Altobello joined Franklin Pierce University in 2001 as a member of the graduate level Business faculty, became Associate Dean of Distance Education, and has served as the Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies at Franklin Pierce University since 2014. She has overseen the Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Physician Assistant Studies, and Nursing programs, as well as online graduate and undergraduate programs. During this time, she has spearheaded the development of several academic programs and helped the institution navigate multiple program accreditations. Altobello earned her M.B.A. and Ed.D. in Instructional Technology and Distance Education from Nova Southeastern University. She holds an A.L.M. in Information Technology from Harvard University and a B.S. in Business Administration from Universidad Metropolitana.

Faiola is a passionate and entrepreneurial leader with decades of experience in academia and in management positions within the hospitality industry. He most recently served as Dean of the newly-formed School of Business and Hospitality at State University of New York (SUNY) Morrisville in New York, where he worked to develop a vision and identity for the School, as well as curriculum, specialized pathways, and the campus’s first fully online degree program. Dr. Faiola earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Syracuse University, and his B.S./M.P.S. from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University.

Konieczka is a dedicated and collegial leader with more than a decade of experience as an administrator and faculty member in the humanities. He most recently served as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Newbury College in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he helped develop and implement a new general education core curriculum and first-year seminar on “Foundations of Liberal Arts.” His responsibilities have included supervising adjunct faculty and promoting student retention. ​​​​​​​Konieczka earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and his M.A. in Philosophy from Northern Illinois University. He earned his B.A. in Liberal Studies in the Great Books from Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire.