Kavita R. Dhanwada, Ph.D.

Kavita R. Dhanwada, Ph.D., joins Iona University as founding dean of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences effective July 1, 2022.

Since 2017, Dhanwada served as founding dean of the Borra College of Health Sciences at Dominican University in River Forest, Ill. She was responsible for the University’s strategic vision, new program development and faculty recruitment and training while enhancing visibility, funding and support for the school. She also oversaw the University’s accreditation approvals for Physician Assistant Studies (ARC-PA), Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and Nursing (CCNE), in addition to serving in many leadership and service roles.

Aligning with Iona’s interdisciplinary approach, Dhanwada’s experience has focused on promoting interprofessional education to build practical knowledge through experiential learning. Dhanwada also collaborated with faculty to sustain, develop and grow numerous academic programs. Notably, she introduced a new degree to Dominican University, a Bachelor of Applied Science, and developed a new undergraduate major, a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness. Other collaborative innovations include working with nursing faculty to develop an online RN to BSN degree completion program.

During her tenure at Dominican University, which embodies a Catholic, Dominican tradition, Dhanwada’s clear articulation of programs and objectives also helped to support funding for the naming of both the Borra College of Health Sciences as well as the Elizabeth T. MacNeil School of Nursing. Most recently, she became project director for a $5 million Department of Education Title III-F HSI STEM grant that aims to recruit and retain more Hispanic, low-income and first-generation students into STEM by providing academic support services in a culturally responsive and inclusive manner.

Previously, Dhanwada served as associate provost for Academic Affairs and dean of the Graduate College at the University of Northern Iowa. She also served there as associate dean for the University of Humanities, Arts and Sciences, department head, faculty fellow and a long-standing Department of Biology faculty member.

In addition to being widely published for her research work, Dhanwada is also a member of the Council of Independent Colleges, the American Association of Colleges and Universities, and the American Conference of Academic Deans. She received a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Ph.D. in Microbiology/Immunology from Loyola University of Chicago.