Stonehill College Announces New Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies

Stonehill College announces the appointment of Elizabeth Stringer Keefe, Ph.D., as the new Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies.  

“Dr. Stringer Keefe is a dedicated, compassionate and innovative higher education leader. She has transformed our graduate education programs since she arrived on campus four years ago and I look forward to working with her to grow all our graduate and professional offerings at Stonehill College,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs Peter Ubertaccio. 

With 22 years of experience in higher education centering inclusivity, equity, diversity and social justice, Stringer Keefe joined the Stonehill College community in 2019 as associate professor of education, director of graduate teacher education, and director of Stonehill at Riverview. She was the founding director of Graduate Inclusive Education at the College. In the 2022-2023 academic year, she served the College as Faculty Senate President. She was awarded the College’s Outstanding Faculty Service Leadership Award in 2023.

“I am honored to have found my professional home at Stonehill College. Since joining the Stonehill community, I have developed successful community and partner-based graduate programs that reflect the mission of the College and demonstrate our commitment to a more just world," said Stringer Keefe. “The growth of our graduate and professional programs is a moment of promise and opportunity for the College, and I look forward to working with faculty and staff to expand strong graduate and professional offerings that set us apart.”  

Prior to joining Stonehill, she served as the director of Graduate Special Education at Lesley University where she spent 14 years of her career. She also worked at Curry College, and taught at various other colleges in adjunct roles, including Boston College and Merrimack College. She was named Educator of the Year by ARC of Greater Boston in 2006.  

Her research includes several current projects aimed at advancing the field of teacher education, particularly identifying innovations and new understandings about teacher preparation for diverse student groups and educational contexts. In 2020, she won the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education’s Outstanding Book Award for her co-authored book, Reclaiming Accountability in Teacher Education. 

She holds a B.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, a M.Ed. in Education from Lesley College, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College.  

“Expanding our graduate and professional studies offerings at Stonehill College to meet the demand for graduate education in our region remains a top priority for the College,” said President John Denning, C.S.C. “As a leader in her field and an advocate for inclusivity, Dr. Stringer Keefe brings a reservoir of experience and a solutions-seeking mindset to this role. I am grateful to Dr. Stringer Keefe, the search committee, and the entire community for embracing this important work.”