In a move to better address today’s health care needs and enhance its mission to provide a values-based education, Benedictine University announced the establishment of a College of Science and Health. Dr. Elizabeth Ritt, who joined Benedictine in 2011 as chair and professor of Nursing and Health, will be Dean of the new College.
The move restructures the College of Education and Health Services and streamlines Benedictine Colleges from four to three: Science & Health, Liberal Arts and Business. Benedictine will continue to offer its full complement of Education courses through the School of Education.
“This new College will provide students with both the knowledge and inspiration to help solve our world’s health problems today and into the future,” said Benedictine President Charles Gregory. “Students will find a wide-variety of course options in science and health designed specifically to prepare them for careers in these fields.”
The re-imagining of science and health into a single college will result in innovative collaborations and curriculums that offers students the opportunity to take a new and creative mix of courses that brings disciplines together to study complex problems such as global warming and public health by integrating fields such as chemistry and biology. Newbold said the University will provide experiences inside and out of the classroom that enables students to successfully pursue their next level of education and/or their occupational goal.
Alumni SpotlightText
Erik Johnson, a native of Chicagoland who attended Alan B. Shepard High School in Palos Heights, began his medical career at Loyola University-Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Pediatrics at The University of California-Irvine, receiving numerous accolades during his residency including Resident of the Year and the P. Colin Kelly award for the “Pediatrician Who Teaches.” In 2000, Johnson began practicing at Alexian Brothers Medical Center and St. Alexius Medical Center with The Medical Care Group. He continued teaching at Midwestern University in the Physician Assistant Program. In 2014, his focus shifted to administration with his appointment as medical director-pediatric services for Alexian Brothers Health System and the Alexian Brothers Women’s and Children’s Hospital. He has been influential in advancing centers of excellence in Neurology and Endocrinology. Johnson is on the Board of Directors of the AMITA Health Medical Group and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation. He has recently served on the Executive Leadership Team for the March of Dimes Walk for Babies.
What our students say...
"I chose Benedictine's COS because of its reputation for excellence in the sciences and small classroom size. I really enjoy that my professors are truly dedicated to providing a high quality education, and I appreciate their genuine interest in my academic career and success."
The Benedictine Benefit
Yvonne Kumon
Senior Assistant to the Dean
ykumon@ben.edu
(630) 829-6084
Bonnie Beezhold, Ph.D.
Acting Associate Dean
bbeezhold@ben.edu
(630) 829-6528
Cheryl Mascarenhas, Ph.D.
Acting Dean, Science & Health
cmascarenhas@ben.edu
(630) 829-6587
