Mark E. Correia has been selected as dean of the College of Health and Human Services.
Correia will come to IUP from San José State University in California on June 1.
“I'm thrilled that Dr. Correia will be joining us as dean of IUP's College of Health and Human Services,” Timothy Moerland, IUP provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said. “His experience and skills are an excellent fit for the college, and we look forward to his leadership.”
The College of Health and Human Services includes the departments of criminology, culinary arts, food and nutrition, health and physical education, hospitality management, human development and environmental studies, employment and labor relations, nursing and allied health professions and safety sciences.
At San José State University, Correia serves as chair of the department of justice studies, leads social media and technology efforts within the College of Applied Sciences and Arts, and recently served as the executive director of the Center for Justice Research, Policy and Training.
Before his work at San José State, he was an assistant professor in criminal justice at California State University, Los Angeles, and at the University of Nevada, Reno. He also worked in several roles at Washington State University in the Division of Governmental Studies and Services and in the criminal justice program.
“I am impressed with the strong sense of community and deep commitment to faculty and student success in the college and at IUP,” Correia said. “There is a strong sense of optimism about the future, and I am honored to be part of an institution with such rich tradition.
“I believe this college is uniquely situated to lead the commonwealth and the nation in enhancing individual and community health and safety and in developing engaged students committed to the public interest. This is a very exciting time at IUP, and I look forward to the opportunities ahead.”
Correia earned his bachelor's degree in justice from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and his master's degree in criminal justice and Ph.D. in political science from Washington State University.
Correia's work has been widely published, and he has written, co-written or edited four books and numerous articles on criminal justice issues. The primary focus of his research is the impact of informal social networks and organizational behavior on police-community relations. His most recent research examines the impact of police actions on the perceptions of the legitimacy of their authority.
He has been successful in securing more than a dozen competitive grants totaling close to $2 million, has worked extensively with community-based agencies and has served as a panel chair at many professional meetings and educational seminars. In 2011, he was appointed as a human rights consultant with the Economic and Social Council for the United Nations through the International Police Executive Research Symposium.