Gannon University proudly announces the appointment of Kimberly Cavanagh, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C, as Dean of the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences. Provost and Vice President of Student Experience, Sarah Ewing, Ph.D., praised Cavanagh as a visionary leader for the College.
“We are grateful to Dr. Cavanagh for her continued service and commitment to Gannon University, our faculty and our students,” said Ewing. “We are excited by her decision to continue to serve as Dean and propel the health profession and science programs forward on both our Erie and Ruskin Campuses,” said Ewing.
Cavanagh earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from Siena College and earned her physician assistant certificate from Allegheny University of the Health Sciences in 1998. Continuing her academic journey, Cavanagh completed the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program with specialization in cardiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center before accomplishing her doctoral degree in health science in 2009 at Nova Southeastern University. Her service at Gannon began in 2001, where she excelled as an educator and academic leader in various roles within the college and across the university, most recently serving the college as associate dean for the School of Medical Sciences and School of Public Health and Health Science.
Cavanagh is recognized for her service and accomplishments within the area of physician assistant education, particularly through her service to the PA Education Association. She is a Distinguished Fellow through the American Academy of PAs and currently maintains her role as Assessment Editor-in-Chief for PAEA. She is active in the community, serving on the Northwest Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center Board and recently completed a term on the Erie Philharmonic Finance Committee.
“I am humbled to serve and lead as Dean of the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences and feel blessed for the opportunity to impact the lives of students,” said Cavanagh. “I look forward to continuing to work alongside our Provost, the deans of the other colleges, our faculty, staff, students, and our community partners to advance academic and professional success. In this role, I will strive to advance innovation of our academic offerings to provide a positive experience for students and colleagues, supporting their work in transforming the lives of our learners and impacting our Erie and Ruskin communities through meaningful collaboration and service.”
Cavanagh has effectively served as the College’s interim dean since July 1, 2023. During this tenure, the College maintained positive momentum, launching a new partnership between the University of Tampa and our Ruskin Campus to make our graduate programs more accessible to their undergraduate students; obtaining accreditation for our physician assistant master’s degree program in Ruskin, Florida, and breaking ground for a new campus greenhouse as part of Gannon’s Project NePTWNE initiative.
Cavanagh will be responsible for all undergraduate, graduate and online academic matters for the College, as well as student engagement opportunities, community and service programming and partnerships. She will work alongside the Provost and Vice President for Student Experience, the Associate Provost for Mission Immersion, the Deans of Gannon’s other two colleges, the associate deans of the college and its faculty and staff. She will succeed Sarah Ewing, Ph.D. in the Dean position as she now leads as the Provost and Vice President for Student Experience at Gannon.
