Melissa “Missy” Terlecki, PhD, was appointed dean of the School of Professional and Applied Psychology in July of 2024. Dr. Terlecki brings a wealth of experience and dynamic leadership to this role, with a deep-rooted passion for psychology and higher education administration. As dean, she will oversee the recruitment, management, and retention of faculty and staff, guide the academic progress of all students within the school, and manage the school’s budget.
Dr. Terlecki joins PCOM from Cabrini University, where she served as associate dean for the School of Arts and Sciences. Over nearly two decades at Cabrini, she held multiple leadership roles, including Co-Director of the Nerney Leadership Institute and Chair of the Psychology Department. Her teaching repertoire includes courses such as Gender and Identity, Research Methods, Environmental Psychology, and History of Mental Health. She earned her doctoral degree in cognitive psychology with a specialization in neuroscience from Temple University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of New Jersey.
