2015-present
In her two years at Hood, President Chapdelaine has led a community–inclusive process to develop the College’s next strategic plan. Formally adopted in July 2017, the five-year plan is grounded in both the mission and the vision for Hood and aims to transform the educational experience, expand partnerships with the region and strengthen the Hood community.
Under President Chapdelaine’s leadership, the College has created its first two doctoral programs – a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and a Doctorate in Business Administration – and has expanded graduate and undergraduate offerings.
Originally from Chicopee, Massachusetts, President Chapdelaine has more than two decades of experience in higher education, including serving as provost and chief academic officer at Albright College in Reading, Pa., from 2006 to 2015. She also served as dean of undergraduate studies and as a psychology faculty member there beginning in 1998.
As provost at Albright, President Chapdelaine oversaw the academic affairs division and played a leadership role in strategic planning and assessment, the college’s fundraising campaign and a number of facility projects. She was directly and indirectly involved in acquiring nearly $7 million in gifts and grants to benefit Albright, its students and faculty from organizations and foundations, including the Hearst, Mellon, Alfred P. Sloan, National Science and local foundations, as well as individuals. In collaboration with the faculty, she initiated new academic programs and a comprehensive revision of the general education curriculum. She is a member of the Council on Undergraduate Research, has presented at professional development workshops for academic administrators and served on a local board to improve early childhood literacy.
She earned a doctorate and a master’s degree in social psychology from the University of Connecticut. She graduated cum laude from the University of New Hampshire with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in justice studies.
She began her teaching career at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., from 1993 to 1995 as a visiting assistant professor. She also taught at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., from 1995 to 1998 as a visiting assistant professor. During her career, she has taught introductory psychology, statistics, research methods, program evaluation, social psychology, psychology and the law, close relationships and community-based research. Her most recent scholarly work has focused on supporting faculty through policies designed to promote flexibility and work-life balance, the value of undergraduate research to student learning and ethical issues in service learning. In addition to her presidency, she is also a tenured faculty member in the psychology department.
